DETROIT — Sen. Barack Obama Monday morning told thousands gathered to hear him give a barnburner amidst the first real week of general election campaigning that he would skip the political speeches because of Hurricane Gustav.
“I have to change my plans,” Mr. Obama told a massive crowd gathered for what was to be a major rally for organized labor on the holiday. “Our neighbors and our fellow citizens in Louisiana and across the Gulf Coast are once again under seige from a terrible storm.”
The Democratic presidential nominee asked the crowd to “give what you can” to the American Red Cross and other relief organizations, and led them in a “silent prayer for all those Americans who are spending this Labor Day in a shelter waiting for this storm to pass.”
His campaign also altered plans so the Illinois senator can monitor the storm from his home in Chicago. He has spoken several times with FEMA officials.
“Although we are prayerful that this will not be the same kind of situation that we saw three years ago, today is not a day for political speeches,” he said. “I hope you will forgive me, I hope you don’t mind. Today is a day for all of us to come together as Americans and send our thoughts and prayers to our brothers and sisters who are worrying at this very hour about their homes and their loved ones.”
He offered some kind words for his Republican rival, who has retooled his celebratory nominating convention in the wake of the storm, which made landfall in Louisiana Monday morning.
“There is a time for us to argue politics, but there is a time for us to come together as Americans. I know John McCain wants whats best fo the poeple that have been evacuated, I know George Bush wants what’s best for them and so do I,” he said.
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