How the storms in the US are impacting politics
Hurricane Milton raged across Florida but caused less damage than initially feared. Just a fortnight ago, Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in the south-west of the US. Europe's media discuss how these extreme weather events are influencing the US presidential election campaign - and the extent to which politics and disaster control are becoming intertwined.
Swing states particularly hard hit
Diena is struck by how regional weather events can impact politics:
“If Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton had only hit Florida, the White House could survive this, because that state is not going to support the Democrats anyway. But its neighbouring states are also affected, two of which (the most severely damaged in both cases) – Georgia and North Carolina – will decide the entire presidential election, because they're both swing states. Rash domestic and foreign policy steps are clearly being taken to win over voters in these states and undermine the effectiveness of Trump's claims. The most visible of these steps is the postponement of the meeting on support for Ukraine at the US army base in Ramstein.”
Stormy times ahead
In the run-up to the elections, the hurricane season highlights the political divisions in the area of climate policy, Le Temps comments:
“If there's one country that should be able to cope with these extreme weather events, it is the United States. Yet the hurricane season, which lasts until December, well after the elections on November 5, is really putting the capabilities of the world's largest power to the test. ... On this existential issue for our planet, there is a profound gulf between the two political camps. Donald Trump denies global warming. As they pray to be spared from Milton, the people of Florida would do well to cast their votes in November so that the Republican hurricane avoids the White House.”
Political losses even more devastating
The Times fears that the havoc wreaked by Milton could influence the course of the election:
“North Carolina is one of the seven pivotal swing states that will determine the outcome of the election. Imagine if Trump loses the state by a few thousand votes (as he lost other states in 2020); it turns out to be the key state that gives Harris victory and thousands of Trump supporters in remote areas say they were unable to vote because they had lost homes, possessions and access to ballots. The political storm then might be even more calamitous than the meteorological one.”
The rush to exploit Milton
Both political camps are trying to capitalise on the hurricane, writes Yeni Şafak:
“While the Republicans claim that the government is discriminating in providing aid, the Democrats are trying to show that they're mobilising all the country's resources. The past has shown how strong responses to the destructive effects of storms can have a positive impact in elections. Obama's appearance after Hurricane Sandy before the 2012 elections is one example of this type of positive October surprise. There were relatable images of Obama and the then Republican governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie. In this way Obama showed that the federal government was paying close attention to the effects of the hurricane.”
Disinformation putting people's lives in danger
Új Szó accuses the Republicans of shamelessly exploiting the hurricane:
“Even local Republican leaders in affected areas are concerned about the disinformation campaign being waged at the federal level by their own party. ... US campaigns are often indicative of what can be expected in Europe in terms of campaign techniques and methods in the coming years. It is very much to be hoped that our politicians refrain from indulging in such a level of polarisation, without any regard for human lives.”