By Ruth Ferguson, NDG Editor
For one more day, President Barack Obama put aside politics to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The storm made landfall in America late Monday afternoon in New Jersey and many of the areas remain in disarray as the communities await the restoration of electricity and for the water to recede.
One of the president’s harshest critic is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, but throughout this ordeal he has shared nothing but compliments for the leadership of the President Obama during this crisis. Wednesday afternoon the two men visited Brigantine Beach Community Center, which is temporarily serving as a shelter for those impacted by the storm near Atlantic City.
President Obama and Governor Christie took an aerial tour of some of the areas most affected by Hurricane Sandy aboard Marine One.
In his comments during the visit to the Community Center President Obama said, “I want to just let you know that your governor is working overtime to make sure that as soon as possible everybody can get back to normal. Hopefully if your homes aren’t too badly damaged we can get the power back on and get you back in. For those of you whose homes are damaged we’ve also got Director Fugate of FEMA and one of the things we’re going to do is to activate and make sure you guys are getting the help you need as quickly as possible.”
Governor Christie added, “I just want to tell all of you exactly what the president just said. “I know he means it. We took a whole tour of the coast. He got a chance to see the destruction along the coast of New Jersey and we’ve been working with Director Fugate here to make sure that we need the things we need to get here. This state is working hard too, you know we’re working hard. I want to thank the president for coming here today. It’s really important to have the president of the United States acknowledge all the suffering that’s going on here in New Jersey and I appreciate it very much. We’re going to work together to make sure we get ourselves through this crisis and get everything back to normal. Thank you for coming, sir.”
President Obama assured the residents, “The main message I just want to send is that the entire country has been watching what’s been happening and everybody knows how hard Jersey’s been hit,” he said. “You guys are in our thoughts and prayers.”
Sandrine Burel, who had to be evacuated by boat from her Lafayette Boulevard home and stay at the shelter, said it was an honor to see the president in the same room.
“It’s nice to know that he thinks of the little people too,” she said.
Wednesday Governor Mitt Romney has three campaign stops planned in Florida on Wednesday. President Obama will resume his campaign appearances on Thursday with former President Bill Clinton in Wisconsin and Ohio.
Details and quotes regarding the President’s tour of New Jersey were provided by pool reporters traveling with the President.
