In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in the United States, claiming over 100 lives and causing some $50 billion in damage, particularly in New Jersey and New York. And despite the event being a natural disaster, both Democrats and Republicans accused each other of trying to politicize the storm with the election within days.
The event highlighted Republican nominee Mitt Romney's proposal to eliminate funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The storm also brought to the forefront the issue of climate change, in a race largely driven by economic concerns.
President Barack Obama's reaction to the storm was praised by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, as well as New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, the later of whom later endorsed the incumbent for reelection.
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Photo credit: NASA's Earth Observatory