LIMA, Ohio — Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said Sunday he will tap his huge political network of donors and volunteers to help U.S. victims of Hurricane Gustav after it comes inland.
“I think we can get tons of volunteers to travel down there, if it becomes necessary,” Obama told reporters after attending St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Lima.
“I think we can activate an e-mail list of a couple of million people who want to give back,” he said. Donations could include cash, goods and individual labor, he said.
Obama said he first would ask officials in the affected areas what is most needed, which may not be known for a few days.
“We don’t want to solicit a bunch of canned goods that can’t get there or, you know, bottles of water where they already have water,” he said.
Obama said he might visit storm-damaged areas once “things have settled down.”
