Will Gustav benefit McCain or Obama?

[aaroh]

On the one hand Gustav is a distraction to the GOP convention taking away valuable media coverage. But on the other hand it looks like McCain is pivoting to score political points with Gustav. This is a tough one, it can go either way or no way.
Will Gustav benefit McCain or Obama in the polls?

[truthisfreedom]

1. McCain can't gain more from this than Obama unless he's in a very very lucky position.

His convention is screwn. He can't celebrate. That's a big minus. Plus, he picked Palin, and that will look very stupid after the somber mood of examining the aftermath of Gustav.

[FVZA_Colonel]

4. McCain could score points if he pulls it off right.

At this point I can only hope people see through his bull shit.

[BlooInBloo]

2. A rather sick poll.

[rep the dems]

6. I agree. nt

[eshfemme]

3. I'm sure Obama will help out but he'll probably be low key about it

so it won't help counteract the fucking attention whoring the GOPs definitely gonna wallow in with their charity drive.

[NYC_SKP]

5. I think, if anything, it's helpful to their campaign

They're already spinning it as something that they will sacrifice the convention for in order to focus on the "crisis", which is bullshit, but effective.

Also, it means that the they're off the hook in trying to pull off anything impressive.

And off the hook in terms of putting forward anything that looks like planks for a substantial platform, as they have none.

[Dagaz]

7. Guess who won't be at the Convention

Photos, speeches, news clips......

[sadbear]

8. Won't NOLA residents remember Katrina at all?

And Bush and McCain yukking it up with birthday cake on the tarmac? They're not going to see through this? Get one victim angry at McCain for his actions during Katrina and now his photo-ops with Gustav, and it's going to blow up in McCain's face.

[Onlooker]

9. Gustav will remind people of Katrina ...

... and will make it more difficult for McCain to showcase a "new" Republican Party.

[Fearless]

10. Get Obama down there doing physical work and he'll cinch the election.

[Dumak]

12. They already gave Bush

a chance to act like a meteorologist, and McCain a chance to pretend like he was the president. Wait till they bring him down their waist-deep in water to receive a little white puppy dog from a bedroom window.

[aaroh]

11. Gustav may be a game changer

depending on how much politics gets played. Bush's popularity soared when he played politics with the 9/11 issue. Unfortunately McCain may exploit Gustav to win the election. In times of crisis comes opportunity and the republicans are notorious when it comes to exploiting human fear for political advancement....as noted in The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein.

[FrenchieCat]

14. A Gustav tragedy will not be able to rescue McSame & Token

even if Wolf Ticket Blitzer used your exact language earlier today, while he was
"doing" propaganda for the McCain campaign. Sorry.

[Ron Green]

13. Somehow a blow job always seems to favor Republicans.

[Fearless]

15. I'll admit the St. Paul men's rooms are looking very lonely since they've cancelled...

Bad joke I know... but for a good cause.

[rabbits4love]

16. neither id hope ?

i think its pretty sad that mccain planned running to the gulf the instant it was made clear the storm would be coming that way (days ago). always thinking ahead for a photo op , those republicans...

im not sure exactly how canceling the RNC helps people in the path of the storm either... but whatever they think makes them look better...

we all know its really just an excuse to ditch George and Dick from speaking....
nothing better than the incumbent party not having the incumbent speak at the convention...
anybody know if thats happened before ? a sitting president not speak or be at his partys convention for his replacement?

[Runcible Spoon]

17. how about you ask the RIGHT question: who's it going to hurt?

I could give a fuck about the political spoils from this disaster while people's homes, lives, livelihoods, and pets are in danger.

[emilyg]

19. Thank you.

[briv1016]

18. Gustav is going to kill a lot of people just like Katrina.

To say that it's going to help anyone is a disgusting thing to say.

[greguganus]

21. I hope both parties join together to help those affected by this hurricane. n/t

[AtomicKitten]

20. It will remind people of Katrina and the epic incompetence and disregard.

That hurts the GOP and this administration in a big way.

Obama will do the right thing and organize assistance without burdening the locals with the security required with his presence; McBush will make it a photo-op.