Superstorm mutes political attacks on the campaign trail

TAMPA - Hurricane Sandy was the headliner for Mitt Romney, Senator Marco Rubio and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush who rallied Tampa supporters.

"It's interesting to see how people come together in a circumstance like this. We've seen folks from all over the country step forward and offer contributions," said the Republican presidential challenger.

"I hope that you all will do what you can to help your fellow man in New Jersey, New York," said Jeb Bush.

"Our hearts and our prayers go out to them and also our help and if you see on the screen the number you can text the Red Cross and make your donation," Rubio told the crowd at Landmark Aviation in Tampa.

The tone was respectful and attentive to a disaster affecting millions in the northeast.

And in Sarasota, Vice President Joe Biden echoed the same sentiment.

"It's been a pretty devastating storm up in my neck of the woods," he said.

Who would have guessed that six days out from the election, campaign trail squalls would quiet to a breeze.

"We're all better off when everybody's in the deal together. We're all working together," said Vice President Joe Biden.

Both campaigns have been forced to mute attacks in a battleground state where polls indicate a long election night.

"There's always danger in a time of catastrophe to go negative too soon," said USF Political Science Professor Susan MacManus.

The president toured New Jersey damage with Governor Chris Christie and visited a FEMA outpost -- both opportunities to show leadership.

"We need to make sure that everybody who's lost a loved one knows they're in our thoughts and prayers and I speak for the whole country there," he said.

Political experts believe by the weekend both campaigns will be back full grind with final appeals to undecided voters.