Lisa Kashinsky: How politicians are handling Hurricane Dorian

Sep. 1--Hurricane Dorian is churning toward the Florida coast, bringing with it a tide of political posturing.

Reacting to a natural disaster can be a make-or-break moment for a politician. Democratic strategist Tony Cignoli said, "People will always remember how you handled something like this. This goes to legacy."

Criticism of the government's Hurricane Katrina relief efforts "cemented a decline" in former President George W. Bush's approval ratings that, coupled with the "lack of progress in the Iraq War, really cemented voters' image of his administration as one that was incompetent and unable to perform basic governmental functions," said John Cluverius, political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

President Trump came under fire for the federal response to Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017 and left a death toll of nearly 3,000.

That criticism has resurfaced now as millions prepare for Dorian's wrath. Trump tweeted earlier this week, "We are tracking closely tropical storm Dorian as it heads, as usual, to Puerto Rico. FEMA and all others are ready, and will do a great job. When they do, let them know it, and give them a big Thank You -- Not like last time. That includes from the incompetent Mayor of San Juan!" and went on to call himself "the best thing that's ever happened to Puerto Rico!"

The string of tweets prompted derision from several presidential hopefuls and leading Democrats including former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke, who blasted the president for his "abysmal response" to Maria.

Cignoli said politicians' reactions to Dorian will be complicated by the fact Florida is both an ever-important swing state and the home of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. In between their gripes, politicians on both sides have posted messages urging safety and preparedness.

"This is a situation for President Trump where he's got to do all the right things," Cignoli said. "And for his Democratic opponents and other detractors, they have to be careful in how they handle it. The line is you cannot wish ill on the president or on his properties in Florida."

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