The reason Obama went was to fly back

Obama Nixes Campaign Stop, Returning to Washington:

President Obama cancelled a campaign rally this morning in Orlando and is returning instead to the White House.

Obama had been scheduled to be back at the White House by 2:45 pm ET but will instead return by 11:30 am.

From a statement by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney:

Due to deteriorating weather conditions in the Washington, DC area, the President will not attend today’s campaign event in Orlando, Florida.  The President will return to the White House to monitor the preparations for and early response to Hurricane Sandy.

Notice Carney says the return is due to “deteriorating weather conditions.” That is, Obama is probably returning early less to “monitor the preparations” than out of concern by officials that they might not have been able to get him back into Washington if they waited until the afternoon.

What, they don't get weather forecasts in the White House? Understanding that the trip was already arranged at least a few days ago, I think that the whole reason Obama went to Florida rather than merely stayed home was for the presidential drama of returning urgently to Washington to handle a crisis as dedicated, in-charge presidents do!

Our tax dollars at work.