Storm spurs Red Cross emails from campaigns

The presidential campaigns are repurposing their fundraising emails to push donations to the Red Cross in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
 
In advance of Sandy’s landfall, Mitt Romney’s campaign sent an email on Sunday that urged caution, neighborly assistance and a Red Cross contribution. Monday afternoon, President Obama followed suit with an email that read in part, “we are going to do what it takes to keep people safe and secure, and make sure the communities affected get the assistance they need.”
The president’s email went on to praise FEMA and the first responders’ efforts, before pushing recipients to donate to Red Cross relief efforts.
 
In another email Tuesday, Obama Campaign Manager Jim Messina encouraged relief donations while noting the campaign was taking a break from the trail.
“Soon enough we’ll need to get back to work on the most important campaign of our lifetime,” the email reads. “But the most important thing at this moment is that you and your loved ones are staying safe, and that the rest of us do what we can to help speed the recovery.”
The Red Cross appeals are reminiscent of this year’s GOP convention in Tampa. As Hurricane Isaac bore down on the Gulf Coast, the party had to deal with questions of whether or not to postpone the gathering. Instead, GOP speakers asked for contributions on behalf of the Red Cross throughout the convention’s three days.

Follow @DaveNyczepir