CONTENDERS in the US presidential race suspended campaigning
because of Hurricane Sandy, just a week before election day.
The last polls before the superstorm hit the east coast showed
President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger, Governor Mitt
Romney, to be neck and neck. Commentators agree that the
interruption is likely affect the results; but it is by no means
clear which of the two will benefit.
In 2008, Mr Obama won overwhelming support from ethnic-minority
voters: 94 per cent of African-Americans turned to him. His
decision to support same-sex marriage, however, has shaken these
supporters, many of whom are rooted in Evangelical churches. In one
Roman Catholic diocese, the Bishop issued a letter warning
parishioners that to vote for a candidate who supported
"non-negotiables" such as abortion and gay marriage would be
"putting your soul in jeopardy".
Some voters have already made their mark by voting early. In
Florida last Sunday, churches were calling out their voters and
laying on transport to "call souls to the polls". They redoubled
their efforts after the Republican state governor, Rick Scott, cut
down the number of days allowing early voting. Critics said that he
did this because early voting had helped Mr Obama in 2008.
The President was among those early voters this week, in Chicago
- the first time a president has voted early, and in person.
Asked whether Hurricane Sandy would have an impact on the 6
November election, Mr Obama said: "The election will take care of
itself next week. Right now, our number-one priority is to make
sure that we are saving lives, that our search-and-rescue teams are
going to be in place, that people are going to get the food, the
water, the shelter that they need in case of emergency, and that we
respond as quickly as possible to get the economy back on
track."
In Ohio, one Christian group urged people to fast from the media
for 24 hours before voting. Its camctspaign asks people to "turn
down the noise - fast, pray, vote."