Lower Manhattan will not be fine anytime soon. Do you have any idea how long that it will take them to get the power on? Con Ed says 7 to 10 days... I'd say that is about right... subways... 5 to 8 days... much switching and electronics went under salt water and have to be repaired or replaced and every inch of track inspected... and cleanup... they will get started picking up cleanup debris on the side of the road in about 2 weeks... the election is Tuesday and obama is perceived as a messiah who can work miracles. I know hurricanes and the aftermath... Mississippi Power has trucks almost to NY as we speak. NY will be fine... with a lot of help from many Power Company cooperatives and many States and their people... just like after 9/11.
LLS
Nobody is going to blame Obama for the time it takes to repair the subways, and few who are within range of even seeing it are going to be voting in states where Romney has a chance anyway.
NYers are a tough, resilient people. The markets are open today, and a good chunk of the transportation will be operative by next week.
Oh, and a good number of NYC first responders have gone to help with the aftermath of Katrina and other out-of-state storms too.