Biden Skips Labor Day Parade to Monitor Hurricane

Joe Biden canceled a planned appearance at a Labor Day parade in Pittsburgh, Pa., so the vice presidential hopeful could monitor storm developments as Hurricane Gustav slammed the Louisiana coast on Monday. “I think it’s totally appropriate that elected officials march here in Pennsylvania, but it shouldn’t be a day for national politics,” Biden told reporter. The Delaware senator still plans to travel later to Scranton — his childhood home — where he is scheduled to discuss the economy. A Biden aide could not immediately confirm that the event would go on as planned. Asked about the Bush administration’s preparations for Gustav, Biden said, “So far I’ve been impressed.” Gustav had been downgraded to a Category 2 storm by mid-morning as it made landfall on the Louisiana coast. Hurricane Katrina was a Category 3 storm when it hit the Gulf Coast three years ago, heavily damaging 90,000 square miles of property and costing billions of ... (link)