Hurricane causes Romney, Ryan to scrap events

As Hurricane Sandy barreled toward the Eastern Seaboard, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan canceled campaign events in key swing states.

Romney canceled his Wisconsin event and Ryan scrapped his Florida campaign stops, all scheduled for Monday. The GOP presidential ticket also scrapped its plans for Tuesday.

Gail Gitcho, Romney's communications director, said the events were canceled "out of sensitivity for the millions of Americans in the path of Hurricane Sandy." She said Romney believes "this is a time for the nation and its leaders to come together to focus on those Americans who are in harm's way."

Earlier, Romney scrapped a Virginia campaign stop scheduled for Sunday and announced a New Hampshire event for Tuesday would be scrubbed.

Romney encouraged people to support the Red Cross and to help their neighbors. Spokeswoman Andrea Saul said Romney has been in contact with Govs. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and Chris Christie of New Jersey, two of his staunchest supporters, to discuss storm preparations.

"I'm never prouder of America than when I see how we pull together in a crisis," Romney said in a message sent out Sunday night. "There's nothing we can't handle when we stand together."

Fundraising pitches for the District of Columbia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland and New York are on hold, Saul said. She said the Romney Victory campaign offices in North Carolina, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Virginia are collecting supplies to help people affected by the storm.