The exploitation has started. Can this hurt Obama? My dad thinks Obama should be doing something to counter act this publicity stunt to make them look ready.

As usual, Obama is way ahead of the curve: http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

And so is the non-MediaCorpse media:

Obama will mobilize volunteers for Gustav

Obama Walks the Walk on Gustav, McCain Not so Much

John McCain's Miserable Senate Voting Record on Hurricane Katrina

psssssssst: PASS IT ON !

As I said on another thread, this will not play well for McCain. I work in a emergency response center for a major Florida city. Campaign stops by pandering politicians is the last thing we would want in the middle of a disaster. The guy is in no position to offer assistance. I think he knows he'll never be President, so this is as close as he can try to get. Obama has already made a very astute comment that he will not allow his campaign to be a distraction. Obama is even letting McCain hang himself by not blasting him on his MS trip.

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/08/31...on-gustav-trip/

Thank you nameless...

Obama Katrina record, after the cameras were turned off .... what about McCain?

But you have to realize McCain going down to pander to those affected by the emergency isn't to get the votes of those in the affected area. Insted, he's pandering to those who aren't there, to make it look like he's doing a lot. It's a publicity stunt, through and through. And McCain's going to win this one according to everyone who isn't really there.

Roll up those sleeves, grampa.

Obama needs to diffuse the bump McCain will get from smiling and waving there, put out ads with McCain eating cake with Bush while showing images of people drowning, being abandoned in stadiums, 'heckova job brownie", maybe blackwater patrolling the streets with "Happy Birthday" playing in the background. Keep tying McCain to Bush and the failure that occurred while they decided eating cake was more prudent then doing their jobs.