The aftermath of Hurricane Helene disrupted the presidential campaigns of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on Monday. Harris, the Democratic Vice-President, cut short her campaign trip to return to Washington, while Trump visited a storm-affected city in the battleground state of Georgia.
An official, who chose to remain anonymous, stated that Harris plans to visit the southeast region 'soon.' The hurricane claimed over 100 lives in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, with millions more experiencing power outages and damaged roads.
Details on Harris' visit remained undisclosed. Meanwhile, Trump visited Valdosta, Georgia, where he expressed gratitude to local leaders and first responders, pledging 'complete solidarity' with those who lost loved ones, homes, and businesses.
Democratic President Joe Biden informed North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper of his intention to visit the state later this week, aiming to be there by Wednesday or Thursday. Harris had returned to Washington earlier than planned from Las Vegas to participate in briefings at FEMA's emergency management headquarters.
In her remarks, Harris described the devastation as 'heartbreaking,' promising, 'We will continue to do everything we can to help you recover and rebuild no matter how long it takes.' She spoke with Governor Cooper and reached out to Florida's Ron DeSantis and Georgia's Brian Kemp to discuss their needs.
North Carolina and Georgia are key swing states in the race between Harris and Trump. Harris' campaign has scheduled stops in Pennsylvania and Michigan on Wednesday and Friday, respectively. The vice-presidential candidates, Tim Walz and JD Vance, are set to debate on Tuesday.
Over 3,300 federal personnel have been deployed for hurricane response efforts, including search and rescue operations and power restoration, according to Biden administration officials.
