Obama to tour N.J.; Romney back on trail

President Obama headed to New Jersey Wednesday to survey damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a prominent Republican and harsh critic of the president whose role now is of state booster and effective communicator of the state's short-term needs, surveyed the destruction by the monster storm, which made landfall Monday. Before leaving the campaign trail to return to the White House to deal with the storm's aftermath, Obama made a closing argument about trust, noting in Florida last week he has earned voters' trust and raising the question of which candidate could be relied upon if "something unexpected happens." The visit to Atlantic City, N.J., devastated by the storm, was expected to take about three hours, but besides the requisite show of concern for the victims, the Obama camp expects it to yield photo opportunities showing a decisive chief executive and a contrast to Republican challenger Mitt Romney's campaign appearances. Although Romney canceled some campaign appearances, he was in Ohio Tuesday for a rally that included a relief effort, and was back on the campaign trail Wednesday for three stops in Florida. Arriving in Tampa, his airport hangar address began with a call to help hurricane victims before moving to the standard topics of his campaign speeches, the Tampa Bay Times reported Wednesday. Romney will visit Tampa, the University of Miami and Coral Gables. Romney's campaign said Wednesday the candidate would hold a conference call to talk about the state of the race.