On Politics: The politics of disaster

Big storms before elections are a test of how would-be — or incumbent — leaders handle a crisis. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P4Q-AWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9keW5hbWljL3JlbmRlcj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZmaXJzdF9zZW5kPTAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTM1NzEzJmlzVmlld0luQnJvd3Nlcj10cnVlJm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzJnBhaWRfcmVnaT0wJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNzkyNzEmdGU9MSZ1cmk9bnl0Oi8vbmV3c2xldHRlci82YThkZjdjZS1kN2MzLTU5MWYtYTg1Yi03NzgxMzQ4ZjdkZjYmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0SvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjQwOTMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEzNTcxMyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTc5MjcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0SjaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMjExJmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDI0MDkzMCZzdHBlPWRlZmF1bHQmdGU9MSZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMFcDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [On Politics](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9wb2xpdGljcz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) September 30, 2024 [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0SkaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTA4MDcwNCZsaT1DTiZtPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnA9Q05fMjAyNDA5MzAmc3RwZT1kZWZhdWx0JnRlPTEmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyNDA5MzBXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [A truck is submerged in muddy floodwaters with a destroyed home in the background. ] Destruction left by Hurricane Helene in Swannanoa, N.C., on Friday. The storm has left more than 110 people dead across six states. Mike Belleme for The New York Times The politics of disaster [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvamVzcy1iaWRnb29kP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjQwOTMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEzNTcxMyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTc5MjcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) By [Jess Bidgood](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvamVzcy1iaWRnb29kP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjQwOTMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEzNTcxMyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTc5MjcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) The latest, with 36 days to go - President Biden said he could ask Congress to pass aid for areas [devastated by Hurricane Helene](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9iaWRlbi1oZWxlbmUtY29uZ3Jlc3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)[,](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9iaWRlbi1oZWxlbmUtbm9ydGgtY2Fyb2xpbmEuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) which has left more than 110 people dead across six states. - Donald Trump said “[one really violent day](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy90cnVtcC1wcm9wZXJ0eS1jcmltZS1jcmFja2Rvd24uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)” of crackdowns would end property crime. - Republicans in Pennsylvania are lagging behind Democrats in [early mail ballot requests.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9wZW5uc3lsdmFuaWEtcmVwdWJsaWNhbnMtbWFpbC12b3RpbmcuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) When former President Donald Trump traveled to Valdosta, Ga., today, he seemed to want to project the image of a leader in command amid the devastation of Hurricane Helene. He had truckloads of “things,” he said. He had spoken to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, he said. He had even talked with Elon Musk, he said, about getting satellite internet “hooked up” after a storm that has knocked out power and connectivity to hundreds of thousands of people. (A White House spokesman [said in a post on X](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TOaHR0cHM6Ly94LmNvbS9BbmRyZXdKQmF0ZXM0Ni9zdGF0dXMvMTg0MDgyMTQ3NjAzMjcxNzI0Mz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) that the deployment of such systems was “already happening.”) Trump’s words there were [vague and, at times, false](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDI0LzA5LzMwL3VzL3RydW1wLWhhcnJpcy1lbGVjdGlvbj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcjdHJ1bXAtZ2VvcmdpYS1odXJyaWNhbmUtaGVsZW5lVwNueXRCCmb6NTD7ZvseHSlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). Still, he seemed to be hoping to draw comparisons to Barack Obama, then the president, who was widely praised for his handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 — and not to, well, [himself after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico in 2017](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxNy8xMC8wMy91cy9wdWVydG8tcmljby10cnVtcC1odXJyaWNhbmUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD), when he tossed paper towels to residents of a U.S. territory where many said they had been roundly ignored. “A lot of people have been lost in this terrible, this terrible storm, this terrible hurricane,” Trump said Monday, before asking the assembled dignitaries to join him in a moment of “silence and prayer.” Hurricane Helene roared ashore in Florida on Friday night, soaked parts of the Southeast and unleashed deadly flooding and mudslides across western North Carolina, with a death toll that [has already topped 100 people](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9iaWRlbi1oZWxlbmUtbm9ydGgtY2Fyb2xpbmEuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) across six states. The full extent of the devastation [is only just emerging](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9oZWxlbmUtbm9ydGgtY2Fyb2xpbmEtcGhvdG9zLXZpZGVvLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyNDA5MzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTM1NzEzJm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNzkyNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmb6NTD7ZvseHSlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~), and it can seem inappropriate to focus on politics when people are battling for survival. The fact is, though, that the politics of disaster have loomed large in several recent elections — and, after Hurricane Helene barreled through two swing states, 2024 may be no different. Over the weekend, Trump, a former president who has long downplayed climate change, sought to seize on the disaster for his own political benefit. He attacked President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for not immediately visiting the storm’s path of destruction. Harris cut short a Southwestern campaign swing where she was holding rallies and fund-raisers and traveled back to Washington, while Biden said he [planned to visit the region](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9iaWRlbi1oZWxlbmUtY29uZ3Jlc3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) on Wednesday. Big storms before elections are a real-time test of how would-be — or incumbent — leaders handle a crisis. Hurricane Helene could draw [renewed attention to Trump’s mixed record](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy90cnVtcC1nZW9yZ2lhLWh1cnJpY2FuZS1oZWxlbmUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) of natural disaster management, which included his threats to withhold aid from leaders of blue states, proposals by his administration to cut FEMA’s budget, and the diversion of funds from FEMA to immigration enforcement. It could also test Harris’s disaster management skills. “There’s a long line of political graveyards of people who did not do a good job in a crisis,” former Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina, a Republican who was leading his state when Hurricane Matthew flooded swaths of eastern North Carolina in October 2016, told me. “There’s also a long line of success stories, too.” [Ad] [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0SiaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MzMzNTEmbGk9Q04mbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUNOXzIwMjQwOTMwJnN0cGU9ZGVmYXVsdCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjQwOTMwVwNueXRCCmb6NTD7ZvseHSlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0SiaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MzMzNTEmbGk9Q04mbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUNOXzIwMjQwOTMwJnN0cGU9ZGVmYXVsdCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjQwOTMwVwNueXRCCmb6NTD7ZvseHSlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) When storms and elections collide Hurricane season and election season often coincide. In 2008, Senator John McCain of Arizona, then the Republican presidential nominee, [canceled most of the programming](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAwOC8wOS8wMS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy8wMXJlcHVicy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjQwOTMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEzNTcxMyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTc5MjcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) on the first day of the Republican National Convention as Hurricane Gustav [bore down on the Gulf Coast](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P4QgAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMDgvMDkvMDcvd2Vla2lucmV2aWV3LzA3c2Nod2FydHouaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcjOn46dGV4dD1HdXN0YXYlMjBoYWQlMjBsb29rZWQlMjBsaWtlJTIwYSx0aGUlMjB3ZXN0JTIwb2YlMjBOZXclMjBPcmxlYW5zLlcDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~), three years after President George W. Bush had been widely criticized for botching the response to Hurricane Katrina. Obama [visited New Jersey](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMTIvMTEvMDEvdXMvcG9saXRpY3Mvb2JhbWEtdG91cnMtc3Rvcm0tcmF2YWdlZC1uZXctamVyc2V5LXdpdGgtZ292LWNocmlzLWNocmlzdGllLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyNDA5MzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTM1NzEzJm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNzkyNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmb6NTD7ZvseHSlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) two days after Hurricane Sandy deluged New York and New Jersey, where he was showered with praise by Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a Republican. A last-minute polling bump — and a re-election victory — followed. Recent days have shown Trump and Harris diverge in their handling of the moment at a critical time. At a rally this weekend, Trump sought to use the hurricane to attack Harris, suggesting she should not have been holding fund-raisers over the weekend while parts of the country had been “devastated” by the hurricane. [Ad] [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0SjaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMjA4JmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDI0MDkzMCZzdHBlPWRlZmF1bHQmdGU9MSZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMFcDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0SjaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMjA4JmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDI0MDkzMCZzdHBlPWRlZmF1bHQmdGU9MSZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMFcDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) Then, on Monday, he headed to Valdosta to speak to the press at a furniture store called Chez What that was damaged in the hurricane and had loose bricks piled around its facade. Trump eschewed the hurricane apparel — there were no [tall rubber boots](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P4QIAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnVzYXRvZGF5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9vcGluaW9uL2NvbHVtbmlzdC8yMDIyLzEwLzA2L3Jvbi1kZXNhbnRpcy1odXJyaWNhbmUtaWFuLXJlc3BvbnNlLWJvb3RzLzgxOTU3OTYwMDEvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjQwOTMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEzNTcxMyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTc5MjcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~), a la Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, nor an [Obama-esque windbreaker](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMTIvMTEvMDEvdXMvcG9saXRpY3Mvb2JhbWEtdG91cnMtc3Rvcm0tcmF2YWdlZC1uZXctamVyc2V5LXdpdGgtZ292LWNocmlzLWNocmlzdGllLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyNDA5MzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTM1NzEzJm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNzkyNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmb6NTD7ZvseHSlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) — and stuck with his standard campaign ensemble of dark suit, red tie and MAGA hat, which made the event seem blatantly political even as he insisted it was not. “We’re not talking about politics now,” Trump said, moments before Franklin Graham, an evangelist who has been deeply supportive of the former president, directly evoked politics in a prayer. “We pray that, as we come to this election, that your will be done,” Graham said. A visit ‘as soon as possible’ Harris took a lower-key approach to the hurricane on Monday, making a quick appearance at FEMA’s headquarters where she tried to turn the applause of the employees there back on them. [Ad] [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0SjaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzIzMjk3JmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDI0MDkzMCZzdHBlPWRlZmF1bHQmdGU9MSZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMFcDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0SjaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzIzMjk3JmxpPUNOJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1DTl8yMDI0MDkzMCZzdHBlPWRlZmF1bHQmdGU9MSZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMFcDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) “We will do everything in our power to help communities respond and recover,” said Harris, before telling the press she planned to visit the affected region “as soon as possible without disrupting any emergency response operations, because that must be the highest priority and the first order of business.” McCrory said that politicians who visit disaster zones have to walk a “very fine line.” “You need to show empathy and you can’t get in the way, and you better be successful in walking that line while visiting,” he said. In 2016, when Hurricane Matthew bore down on McCrory’s state just before the presidential election, I was on the ground covering the damage for The New York Times. I remember thinking that politics and the presidential election could not have seemed further away. “Anyone who’s thinking about the politics of the moment will fail if they’re the ones in charge,” McCrory said, adding that the people in harm’s way won’t hear any of the news conferences delivered by politicians. Heidi Schreck during a performance of the play “What the Constitution Means to Me” in 2019. Sara Krulwich/The New York Times A different kind of political theater We’re in the final stages of a dramatic election year, and literal dramas are getting in on the action. My colleague Michael Paulson, who covers theater, reported that a play about the Constitution — and a farce about the presidency — [are among the most-staged productions this year](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0T0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8yNS90aGVhdGVyL3doYXQtdGhlLWNvbnN0aXR1dGlvbi1tZWFucy10by1tZS1tb3N0LXN0YWdlZC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjQwOTMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEzNTcxMyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTc5MjcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). You might think America’s theaters would be leaning away from politics — counterprogramming, as it were — given the fatigue some people are feeling with the never-ending news cycle. And sure, some are. But it turns out, according to a survey released last week by American Theater magazine, that the most popular play on the nation’s stages this season will be “What the Constitution Means to Me,” a play by Heidi Schreck that uses a high school speech competition as a way to explore how one of the country’s foundational documents has affected women over the years. The play ran on Broadway in 2019, toured, and streamed on Amazon, and now, for the second year in a row, it’s being staged more than any other play in regional theaters. Why is this happening? I called Stephanie Lynge, the artistic director of the Hippodrome Theater in Gainesville, Fla., where the play is now in rehearsals and begins performances Oct. 9. She said her theater’s selection committee unanimously chose the play back in January, thinking it would be perfect for an election year. That Florida now has an abortion rights measure on its ballot made the production all the more timely. “Women’s rights have taken some blows, and the interpretation of the Constitution has been changing, and having a conversation about that is worthwhile and interesting,” Lynge said. “This is what theater does when it’s doing its best.” — Michael Paulson MORE POLITICS NEWS AND ANALYSIS [[Article Image] Erin Schaff/The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy90ZXN0ZXItc2VuYXRlLWhhcnJpcy1yZXB1YmxpY2Fucy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjQwOTMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEzNTcxMyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTc5MjcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Congressional Memo Tester’s Senate Fate Could Make or Break a Harris Presidency With Democrats waging an uphill battle to hold the Senate, the vice president, should she win, could end up facing a Republican firewall with veto power over her cabinet, court picks and legislation. By Carl Hulse](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy90ZXN0ZXItc2VuYXRlLWhhcnJpcy1yZXB1YmxpY2Fucy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjQwOTMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEzNTcxMyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTc5MjcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [[Article Image] Mike Stewart/Associated Press](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9nZW9yZ2lhLWVsZWN0aW9uLWJvYXJkLWhhbmQtY291bnRpbmctYmFsbG90cy1sYXdzdWl0Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyNDA5MzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTM1NzEzJm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNzkyNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmb6NTD7ZvseHSlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Democrats Sue Over Georgia Requirement That Ballots Be Counted by Hand The lawsuit claims that the new rule would invite chaos on election night, delaying some reporting and putting the security of ballots at risk. By Nick Corasaniti](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9nZW9yZ2lhLWVsZWN0aW9uLWJvYXJkLWhhbmQtY291bnRpbmctYmFsbG90cy1sYXdzdWl0Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyNDA5MzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTM1NzEzJm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNzkyNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmb6NTD7ZvseHSlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [[Christina Bohannan, wearing a pink top, stands at a wooden lectern. People holding signs supporting her candidacy for Congress stand behind her.] Nick Rohlman/The Gazette, via Associated Press](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9pb3dhLWRlbW9jcmF0cy1hYm9ydGlvbi1sYXctYmFja2xhc2guaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [In Iowa, Democrats Count on Backlash to Abortion Law to Bolster Bids for Congress Democrats in a pair of competitive House districts are spotlighting the anti-abortion stances of Republican incumbents after the state enacted one of the most restrictive bans in the country. By Robert Jimison](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9pb3dhLWRlbW9jcmF0cy1hYm9ydGlvbi1sYXctYmFja2xhc2guaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [[Blue signs reading TRUMP are placed in a long row on the side of a country road.] Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9wZW5uc3lsdmFuaWEtcmVwdWJsaWNhbnMtbWFpbC12b3RpbmcuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Pennsylvania Republicans Lag Democrats in Early Mail Ballot Requests Encouraging voters to cast mail ballots — and cast them early — benefits political campaigns. But former President Donald J. Trump’s skepticism has hurt Republican efforts in a key state. By Nick Corasaniti and Jonathan Weisman](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9wZW5uc3lsdmFuaWEtcmVwdWJsaWNhbnMtbWFpbC12b3RpbmcuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [[A large sign, in red, white and blue, on the CBS building in Manhattan advertising the station's vice-presidential debate. ] Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0T4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC9idXNpbmVzcy9tZWRpYS9jYnMtdmljZS1wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWwtZGViYXRlLWZhY3QtY2hlY2stcXIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Want to Check That Fact? For V.P. Debate Viewers, Just Scan the Code. CBS is experimenting with a novel way to offer real-time fact-checking of the vice-presidential debate on Tuesday. Just don’t expect the moderators to frequently jump in. By Michael M. Grynbaum and John Koblin](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0T4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8zMC9idXNpbmVzcy9tZWRpYS9jYnMtdmljZS1wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWwtZGViYXRlLWZhY3QtY2hlY2stcXIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01NiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbl8yMDI0MDkzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMzU3MTMmbmw9b24tcG9saXRpY3MmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3OTI3MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZvo1MPtm-x4dKVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) Read past editions of the newsletter [here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3BvdGxpZ2h0L29uLXBvbGl0aWNzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTU2JmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuXzIwMjQwOTMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEzNTcxMyZubD1vbi1wb2xpdGljcyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTc5MjcxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm-jUw-2b7Hh0pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). If you’re enjoying what you’re reading, please consider recommending it to others. They can sign up [here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo3bU1P0TDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvcG9saXRpY3M_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTYmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25fMjAyNDA5MzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTM1NzEzJm5sPW9uLXBvbGl0aWNzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNzkyNzEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmb6NTD7ZvseHSlSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). Have feedback? Ideas for coverage? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com. [You’ll receive Nate Cohn’s analysis of the latest election data and notifications when a new Times/Siena poll is released.] Try four weeks of complimentary access to The Tilt Nate Cohn, The Times’s chief political analyst, makes sense of the latest political data. 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