Hurricane Sandy gives big boost to Obama`s re-election bid

U.S. President Barack Obama has gained significant momentum in his re-election bid due to Hurricane Sandy and lower unemployment in October.

Being closely chased by Republican challenger Mitt Romney in approval ratings a few days before Tuesday`s presidential election, Obama has instilled in the public the image of a strong commander-in-chief in the course of efforts to recover from the mega storm and in the wake of the drop in the unemployment rate last month. Analysts say Obama got extremely lucky.

Polling agency Gallup on Thursday said the jobless rate declined to 7 percent in October, down nine-10ths of a percentage point from September. The 7-percent rate did not reflect seasonal factors such as a hike in employment over the festive season and layoffs of construction workers in winter.

Last month’s seasonally adjust unemployment rate as used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics under the Labor Department was 7.4 percent, down from 8.1 percent in September.

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate of 7 percent, as estimated by Gallup, was the lowest since the agency began tracking the rate in January 2010, and represents a drop from 8.4 percent in October last year.

Gallup said unemployment rate fell due to increased hiring of part-time workers caused by a sales rise over the holidays and the festival period from last year. The national average unemployment rate, as announced by the government last month, came to 7.8 percent, falling under 8 percent for the first time in 44 months since Obama’s inauguration.

Gallup also announced that its survey conducted last weekend suggested that the probability of Obama`s reelection was 54 percent, ahead of Romney`s chances (34 percent) by 20 percentage points.

Apart from the fall in unemployment, Obama got another unexpected supporter in New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who announced his support for the president Thursday. Serving his third term, the independent Bloomberg said he changed his thinking due to Hurricane Sandy, adding that he endorsed Obama because he is believed to be the right person to cope with climate change.

The mayor also said he concluded that Obama is the most suitable for the presidency since he has displayed the capacity to cope with disaster at a time when Hurricane Sandy left 39 New Yorkers dead and caused billions of dollars in economic damage.

Bloomberg had criticized both Obama and Romney as men who could not help the U.S. to elbow through difficulties that the country is facing. Thus Obama found an unexpected supporter in the final days of the campaign, when he and Romney were running neck and neck.

Obama in a statement said he welcomes Mayor Bloomberg’s endorsement and that he will provide all the necessary support to New York City.

Analysts say the president has displayed leadership of unity in a time of crisis, with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was a vocal critic of Obama in the Republican National Convention, giving him compliments.

Media report said at least 96 people were killed by Hurricane Sandy, and that the final death toll will rise considering those who went missing.

yhchoi65@donga.com