Storm is 'serious and big,' and slow-moving: Obama

Washington: President Barack Obama said Sunday that the storm taking aim at the East Coast is a "serious and big storm" that will be slow-moving and might take time to clear up.

Obama met with federal emergency officials Sunday for an update on the storm's path and the danger it poses to the Mid-Atlantic and New England.

The storm is set to hit one week before Election Day. Asked whether the storm would have an impact on voting, Obama said, "We don't anticipate that at this point, but we're obviously going to have to take a look."

$Storm is \'serious and big,\' and slow-moving: Obama$

Obama met with federal emergency officials Sunday for an update on the storm\'s path and the danger it poses to the Mid-Atlantic and New England.

He said it was "important to respond big and to respond fast." The president said emergency officials were confident that staging for the storm was in place.

Hurricane Sandy was expected to hit the East Coast late Monday, then combine with two winter weather systems as it moves inland, creating a hybrid superstorm. At least four battleground states are likely to be hit: New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.

Obama traveled the nearly three miles from the White House to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's headquarters in his motorcade. He made the comments after a briefing by agency officials that was led by Administrator Craig Fugate. The group participated in a conference call with governors from states in the storm's path. The president also met with FEMA workers and thanked them. Later Sunday the president will head to Florida where he's campaigning on Monday.

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