Warner: Storm won't hurt voting

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said Sunday Virginians "are ready to go to the polls" even though Hurricane Sandy could knock out power until after Election Day.

Rick Reichmuth, Fox News chief meteorologist, predicted on "Fox News Sunday" that heavy winds caused by Hurricane Sandy could cause power outages along the East Coast.

"The biggest problem we're going to have, though, is everybody seeing significant wind, that means major tree damage, for a huge swath of land here. A lot of people without power by the time it is done, likely, in the tens of millions," Reichmuth said. "... When you have those kinds of numbers, it's going to take a long time to get power back on, likely, many people will not have it on next Tuesday during Election Day."

Warner said the impending storm has forced the cancellation of campaign events featuring President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton Monday.

"That rally has been canceled. But I think Virginians are ready to go to the polls and I think the president will carry Virginia, and just as four years ago when Virginia was the state that put the president over the edge in terms of winning," he said, adding that Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell has already declared a state of emergency.

"I think we don't have as extensive early voting in Virginia as other states," Warner said.