CHARLESTON -
Nothing like a freak superstorm dumping snow on the last
week of October to halt an election.
Chris Stirewalt, Foxnews.com digital politics editor and
former political editor for The State Journal, wrote in an Oct. 30 column that Sandy,
the hurricane that turned into a superstorm, put political races in a "holding
pattern."
"Just one week to go before we know how more than 130
million Americans have voted in the longest, nastiest, most expensive election
in American history," Stirewalt wrote. "And it is rather fitting, then, that
Hurricane Sandy, for all of the damage and destruction she has wrought, has
provided the nation a moment to pause and reconsider the race."
As for West Virginia
campaigns, politics took a back seat to safety for nearly every candidate.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin issued a news release Oct. 29 before
the worst of the storm struck West Virginia.
He asked West Virginians to take time to stay safe and
to check on friends or neighbors who may need help. The campaign also advised
supporters to take campaign signs out of their yards so they wouldn't be blown
away in the high winds, making problems for nearby neighbors.
"Governor Tomblin has canceled campaign events until further
notice," Tomblin's campaign spokesman Chris Stadelman said. "He is working with
Gen. (James) Hoyer and other state and local emergency officials to make sure
the state is doing everything possible to assist both residents all over West
Virginia as well as travelers stranded in West
Virginia due to the road conditions."
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Maloney also shifted
his campaign gears to help in storm relief efforts.
"This week, Bill is assisting in the relief efforts by
volunteering at a shelter, helping to serve food at a soup kitchen and giving
blood with the American Red Cross," Maloney's campaign manager Seth Wimer said.
"If you ask West Virginians what they need right now,
the answers would likely be relief from this storm, with their power restored
and more jobs.
"Just as he will do when he is elected governor, Bill has
been diligently leading the way on both of these concerns."
The West Virginia Republican Party on Oct. 29 looked at the
impending storm as an opportunity to urge voters to cast early ballots.
"We have no idea just how much this storm might impede early
voting later this week and the Election Day next week," WVGOP Chairman Conrad
Lucas said in the Oct. 29 statement. "The more folks that can bank their votes
now for the (Mitt) Romney-(Bill) Maloney Team means more of us available to
help with storm cleanup and restoration next week."
Sen. Walt Helmick, D-Pocahontas, contacted people in his
district to make sure they were safe, according to Tom Susman, the spokesman
for Helmick's campaign for agriculture commissioner.
"Elections come and go, and this is a pretty dangerous
situation, so we don't want people out knocking on doors," Susman said. "People
need to realize this is not about elections; it's about people taking care of
their friends and family, and there is plenty of time for campaigning in the
future, so let's be safe."
The Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner, Kent
Leonhardt, also issued a statement Oct. 27 about putting politics aside.
"The first priority for Kent Leonhardt and his campaign is
to put politics aside and make sure we are doing all that we can to ensure
citizens and farms affected by the hurricane and snow are both safe and have
the appropriate resources like water, food and backup electricity where
needed," said Leonhardt's campaign spokesman William Ward Wyatt. "This will
always surpass traditional politicking, even leading into the final days of
this election cycle."
Sen. Mike Hall, R-Putnam, is running for treasurer, and his
campaign spokeswoman Ashley Deem said the campaign has stayed consistent, and
the state's top priority is ensuring the safety of its residence along with
power restoration efforts.
"Mike has been on the road meeting with voters for several
months," she said. "One day of inclement weather won't derail his momentum.
"We have had to make slight adjustments to paid media
efforts, but due to the early predictions of this storm, we were able to assess
and make those changes over the weekend."
Patrick Morrisey, Republican candidate for Attorney General
who lives in the Eastern Panhandle, which was one of the hardest-hit areas in West
Virginia, said he asked campaign volunteers to stay
safe first and foremost.
"We are still working, although the treacherous conditions
mean that you have to use good judgment about traveling," Morrisey said. "Our
campaign postponed several of the events we had scheduled for yesterday and
today so that people could focus on this destructive storm."
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., also suspended his campaign
activities to focus on his constituents. His campaign spokeswoman, Kathy Cosco,
said the campaign staff has shifted its efforts as well.
"We're planning to participate in food drives and events
with the Red Cross until it's appropriate to resume campaign activity," Cosco
said.
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