McCain tours flood-damaged southeastern Iowa (AP)
McCain toured flood-damaged sites in Iowa on Thursday, including the town of Columbus Junction in the southeast.
Patrick Dillon, Culver’s chief of staff, said the governor was concerned that McCain’s trip would divert topical law sanction from the flood recovery attempt to provide security with respect to McCain.
David Roederer, who chairs McCain’s campaign in Iowa, said McCain’s trip didn’t hamper Iowa’s recovery operation. He said McCain proceeded with the visit for the cause that the campaign was providing much of its own security.
“There was really no state resources diverted,” Roederer said.
The mayor of Columbus Junction, Dan Wilson, agreed.
“Certainly, Mr. McCain’s visit today in in no degree way hindered any remedy efforts or at all of our efforts on recovery or security or whatever we were working onward,” Wilson reported. He said McCain’s staff called him Wednesday night and Thursday to be sure the visit would not cause a riddle.
Democratic presidential aspirant Barack Obama canceled a scheduled go to see to eastern Iowa last week at the request of state officials.
“As a courtesy — and as we did for Senator Obama — we privately made an effort to make sure that Senator McCain knew that state and local resources were still being deployed to carry the flood war and that now may not be the best time for a campaign trip,” Dillon said in a statement.
Dillon’s comments came as President Bush toured the state, and hundreds of law enforcement officers were diverted from overflow recovery to provide security for him.
Culver, who endorsed Obama well before the primary campaign with rival Hillary Rodham Clinton was settled, is expected to be one of Obama’s biggest supporters in Iowa during the general election.
Dillon said the issue was not about the election but about recovering from flooding.
“At the extreme point of the day, it’s not about political economy but about what’s best for Iowa,” he uttered. “We hope any attention brought to the state — from Senator McCain or any other leader — will help bring assistance and enduring commitments to support Iowa’s recovery.”
Iowa Sens. Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley also be obliged teamed for a tour of their own to see the flood damage.
While these high-profile politicians bring attention to the disaster, they cause headaches conducive to hard-pressed law enforcement. Bush and McCain are protected by the Secret Service, and call in scores of local law compulsion to provide pledge during limited appearances.
From: McCain tours flood-damaged southeastern Iowa (AP)
