Sandy complicates final stretch of tense U.S. presidential race

A tense and unpredictable race for the White House became even more so on Monday, as mammoth storm Sandy created delicate political challenges for President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney and raised the possibility of a chaotic voting process.As the deadly storm barreled ashore on the paralyzed East Coast, the presidential campaign went into what amounted to a deep freeze just when Obama and Romney had planned to launch their final push for votes in the November 6 election.Suddenly, the final eight days of what has been a bitter fight for the hearts of voters in a politically divided electorate has become a test of crisis leadership for Obama - and a time when harsh political rhetoric seems out of line.Both sides promised to put aside politics to deal with the fallout from the storm. But privately, they fretted about the storms potential impact on a week of candidate appearances and door-to-door campaigning by volunteers that is so crucial in get-out-the-vote efforts.There also is concern about the impact on early voting - a priority for both campaigns but especially Obamas - and Election Day itself, if predictions that millions of people and their polling precincts could be without power well into next week come true.Its a totally unpredictable situation that can play out in many different ways, with risks and rewards for both candidates - which is exactly why political consultants on both sides are very scared right now, said Julian Zelizer, a historian at Princeton University in New Jersey.The crisis gives Obama, who as president is chiefly responsible for the governments response to the storm, an opportunity to show the presidential leadership that Romney frequently accuses him of lacking.If Obama is seen as falling short, the memory of the political damage suffered by then President George W. Bush and his Republicans over the governments botched response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is a haunting reminder of the consequences.On the other hand, a strong effort by Obamas White House in responding to the storm could provide a positive, lasting image to Americans as they head to the polls next week - assuming polling places will have power and be open.Obama canceled campaign rallies planned for Monday and Tuesday and returned to the White House from Florida to meet with federal emergency officials.Romneys team, after initially making plans to continue campaigning, apparently reconsidered and announced late Monday morning that the former Massachusetts governor would cancel a rally in Wisconsin on Monday night, and its schedule on Tuesday as well.Romney joined Obama in appealing for donations to the Red Cross and offered sympathy for those in the storms path.For Romney, the hurricane threatens to sideline him for precious days in the campaigns final week, disrupting his efforts to cast himself as the candidate with momentum in the presidential race.It also forces the Republican challenger to walk a fine line when considering whether to launch political attacks against Obama as the president deals with a crisis.And if the governments response to the storm is broadly deemed a success, it could be a stark reminder that Romney has advocated dramatically cutting back funding for federal relief agencies, saying that such duties should be shifted to the states or perhaps the private sector.This throws a monkey wrench into the campaign for both sides, Republican strategist Ford OConnell said. Nobody wants to look political in the middle of a crisis.Without official duties to carry out, Romney could be relegated to visiting local relief centers while trying not to hinder rescue workers. Romneys running mate, Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan, told supporters at a Florida rally on Monday that the campaign would turn its attention to helping those affected by the storm.In contrast, Obama can use the full power of the presidency to issue directives and announcements, and play the role of sympathizer-in-chief - as he did on Monday, when he appeared in the White House briefing room to announce storm preparations and urge those in Sandys path to take cover. Im not worried at this point about the impact on the election, Obama said in response to a reporters question about the campaign. Im worried about the impact on families, and Im worried about our first responders.