A US political storm is brewing as Hurricane Sandy hits

U.S. Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney leaves a campaign rally through a corridor of supporters in Land O'Lakes on Saturday. Credit: Brian Snyder/Reuters

America is braced for Hurricane Sandy, expected to hit the Eastern seaboard within the next 24 hours.

And yes, it is heading straight for the swing state of Virginia and for the capital, Washington DC.

Campaign schedules are being abandoned, early voting disrupted, rallies cancelled and the President is promising to put storm preparations ahead of his political interests. Of course, the White House fully understands that the two are indistinguishable - looking like a hands-on President can only boost his poll numbers.

A political storm already made landfall in Iowa last night. The main newspaper in the key Midwestern battleground state, the Des Moines Register, has decided to support Mitt Romney.

The paper's endorsement of Romney is a big symbolic blow for President Obama (they backed him in 2008).

Just look at how it described America's biggest challenge:

The paper then decided that Romney's business background made him the best man to unlock "this nation’s economic potential."

The editorial board wrote:

As for Obama, the paper said he "rocketed to the presidency from relative obscurity with a theme of hope and change... The president’s best efforts to resuscitate the stumbling economy have fallen short. Nothing indicates it would change with a second term in the White House."

Ouch. And ouch again.

The President will be bitterly disappointed with the choice of words. The paper has embraced the precise Romney campaign narrative.

So the week ahead has the potential to be frightening on many fronts for the President: a "Frankenstorm" due to hit Washington (a test of Obama's leadership), and an election that remains on a knife edge (a test of his political nerves).

Whoever spoke of "No Drama Obama"?

It's now All Drama Obama.