Obama cancels second campaign stop following Colorado shooting
(CNN) - President Barack Obama's campaign said Friday it was canceling the second of two campaign events following a deadly shooting at a movie theater in Colorado. He will address the shooting at a first event at 11:20 a.m. ET in Fort Myers and then return to the White House.
Vice President Joe Biden and first lady Michelle Obama also both cancelled scheduled campaign events Friday. The campaign of presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney said it would continue with a planned political event.
Obama, who was alerted of the shooting around 5:30 a.m. ET by his homeland security adviser John Brennan, spent Thursday evening in Florida as part of a two-day campaign swing through the state.
Romney, who spent Thursday attending meetings at his campaign headquarters in Boston, will continue as planned with a campaign event in Bow, New Hampshire, at 12:10 p.m. ET. A spokeswoman with Romney's campaign said the Republican candidate would address Friday's deadly shooting at the event.
In a statement released early Friday morning, Romney said he and his wife Ann were "deeply saddened" by news of the shooting, which took place at a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado.
"We are praying for the families and loved ones of the victims during this time of deep shock and immense grief. We expect that the person responsible for this terrible crime will be quickly brought to justice," Romney wrote.
Obama also released a statement expressing grief for the victims of the shooting, writing his administration "will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time."
"As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family," Obama wrote. "All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, and we must stand together with them in the challenging hours and days to come."
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Terrible story, terrible tragedy.
Get rid of all firearms. They are doing more harm than helping. The world has changed and there a lot of crazy people in every corner.
I see no reason to cancel events today. A moment of silence and prayer would be good.
"Meanwhile, the campaign of presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney said Friday it would continue with planned political events."
Of course. Mitt has nothing more to lose. He already lost the election.
It's good to have a respectful man of high character in the Wh for a change, instead of some right wing political opportunist... like bush.
the government employed more federal workers when bush was in office compared to obama
Good job Pres Obama, some things are more important then campaining. The country can cry on his shoulders
tragic event but can someone explain to me what obama is going to do about it.
Thank you Mr. President for taking time to stop so you can support the families in Colorado.
Two words: gun control.
Bush couldn't be bothered to cancel a campaign event for Hurricane Katrina... and of course Romney doesn't cancel his. After all, he has to support the right to have things like AKs.
Thank you for caring and for your support, Mr. President.
Offshore, that is.
of course Romney shows no respect for anybody AGAIN!
There you go. Obama shows respect, Romney ignores the pain of "those people" and goes ahead.
If you elect me, I will make sure EVERYONE carries a gun at ALL times for protection!!!!!!
Im sure Oblunder will use this to get away from horrific record as president. This guy has done nothing but ruin this country if you still believe his lies you are just plain stupid P.S. not a Mitt fan but anything is better than Oblameo
Really? This President is going to cancel a campaign event... That is really hard to believe. Unfortunately, the only way possible for this President to bring people together is via a tragedy.
Romney shows himself as the VERY WORST example of our political process doesnt give a damn about anyone but himself and will lie and pander to ANYONE to get their votes. His ads are so full of lies its not even funny anymore this guy totally disgusts me
If Mittens would cancel his, he could work with hundreds of accountants to release his taxes from 1999 – 2011.
You folks all babble about nothing. You say things that may or may not be correct just to make yourself heard. The fact is we are becoming a third world country, the media keeps up the talk about everyone shooting each other and it does nothing more than instill this into the heads of the ignorants. I feel terrible about what happened in Colorado, but our leadership has done nothing to stop any of it. Look at Chicago, what a mess that is, Detroit just had a threat, how long is this going to continue without proper direction?
Mr. President you have class. Campaigns can wait. Mitt Romney is just...too low.. Also BAN firearms.
Because of this tragic event 'we must all come together as one American family'. Sounds politically very good. This tragic occurrence happened in Aurora CO. The country's sympathy is offered to the victims in Aurora. I guess it is good for politicians to cash in where and when they can.
In the last 6 months, Obama has not met with his "job council " but had over 100 campaign fundraisers.
Taxes, which are paid by tax payers – including business owners & entrepreneurs, pay for government services, including the building of roads. Government exists because the people choose to finance government. People hire the government to build roads, just like people hire construction workers to build their houses. Romney is absolutely correct. There are people in government that help us. But they are already paid to do so. In contrast, what Obama said, that business owners "didn't build that" (whether "that" meant the business itself, or the infrastructure), is just not true. Business owners financed the building & maintenance of those roads, just like all the other tax payers (probably, in fact, to a greater degree, proportionately speaking). Obama specifically leaves business owners out as being contributors to the financing of the roads.