First Word: Hurricane Sandy shakes up election

Hello October Surprise. With just eight days to go until the election, Hurricane Sandy has forced both campaigns to scrap previously schedule events and shift attention on dealing with the aftermath of the storm. Here’s a look at some of the headlines we’re following right now:

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• As storm hits, President Obama leaves campaigning to surrogates

• Romney, Obama camps spar over who’s really winning

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• Jeep ad caps Romney effort to recast opposition to auto bailout

• Obama ad blasts Romney’s Jeep ad as ‘dishonest‘

• Romney would give more power to states, would not abolish FEMA

• FEMA stands to lose nearly $900 million if sequester cuts hit

• Labor Department ‘working hard’ to ensure jobs report released on time