Obama Keeps Focus On Hurricane Gustav

After Ohio Church Service, Democratic Nominee Addresses Concerns of Gulf Coast Region

by Athena Jones

Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008


LIMA, Ohio -- Barack Obama said today that he was prepared to mobilize a network of volunteers to help victims of Hurricane Gustav once it was clear what kind of aid was needed.

"I think we can get tons of volunteers to travel down there if it becomes necessary," he said in a brief press conference after attending service at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, according to a pool report. "So it becomes a question of what people on the ground need, and once we determine that, then we can activate our e-mail list of a couple of million people who want to give back."

The Democratic presidential nominee said he was monitoring the situation and that officials in the area were doing everything they could "to execute a effective evacuation, but we need people's cooperation, so that's the message I'm going to be sending throughout the day."

He said donations from his millions-strong e-mail list of volunteers and donors could include cash. He also responded to the news that Republican candidate John McCain; his wife, Cindy; and his running mate, Sarah Palin, were traveling to Mississippi today at the invitation of Gov. Haley Barbour.

"A big storm like this raises bipartisan concerns, and I think for John to want to find out what's going on is fine," Obama said. "The thing that I always am concerned about in the middle of a storm is whether we're drawing resources away from folks on the ground, because the Secret Service and various security requirements -- sometimes it pulls police, fire and other departments away from concentrating on the job. I'm assuming that where he went that wasn't an issue. We're going to try to stay clear of the area until things have settled down, and then we'll probably try to figure out how we can be as helpful as possible."

Vice presidential nominee Joseph Biden went to a Catholic Church, St. Brendan's in Hilliard. He and Obama were set to meet up in Toledo to host a discussion on the economy.

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