Source:
PoliticoCarrie Budoff Brown
1 hour, 40 minutes ago
DUBLIN, Ohio — After conversations Saturday with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and emergency management officials about Hurricane Gustav, Barack Obama said cooperation between the local and federal government “appears to be good” but he will continue to monitor it.
“The main message,” Obama said, “is for the public in those areas that are potentially in danger to take the evacuation seriously, even if you have ridden out this storm before, even if you think that it may pass over, even if you think you can wait until the last minute, this is going to be potentially very, very serious.”
<snip>
Obama said he did not have plans to visit the area, adding: “We can be a distraction in these situations.”
He declined to say whether President Bush should attend the Republican National Convention, where he is scheduled to speak on Monday.
"I don't want to wade into the White House’s decision-making at this point,” Obama said. “The main priority has to be making sure that everything is being done on the ground to prevent a repeat of some of the tragic situations we saw several years ago. I think the White House is mindful of that, FEMA is mindful of that, and my expectation is that they are monitoring it very closely.”
Read more:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/13012
At least he is making it clear he not going down there for a photo op.