I think a lot of weight has to be given to incumbency.
Incumbent politicians have wet dreams about opportunities to look like leaders during a natural disaster. Romney had no choice but to stand down while Obama role-played himself as commander-in-chief in New Jersey.. a moment that shoved the gathering scandal of Benghazi off the front pages just as it was beginning to inflict damage. Many FReepers argued with me on this point, but it proved out... Many Americans — especially on-the-fencers — respond positively to images of presidents appearing to take charge, regardless of who’s in the White House. And photo ops like these are exponentially more powerful and valuable than any images a campaign can buy.
We were dealt a bad hand here... the timing of that storm was.. .well, a “perfect storm” of opportunity for Obama. Romney still had momentum up until that moment. I was hoping and praying Sandy would drift off into the Atlantic, but she landed at the most inopportune time for us. And that helped Obama immensely.
The assistant from Laurel Hardy Christie didn’t help matters. That SOB should do a Charlie Christ and get the hell out of the republican party.