Both major candidates adjust their campaign plans after Hurricane Helene strikes, and Democrats prepare to spend more money in Florida.

Harris, Trump shift plans after Hurricane Helene's destruction

Hurricane Helene's deadly devastation has scrambled the presidential candidates' campaign plans, with Kamala Harris returning early from a campaign visit to Las Vegas to attend briefings and Donald Trump heading to Georgia to see the storm's impact.

The death toll surpassed 100 people, with some of the worst damage caused by inland flooding in North Carolina.

Besides being humanitarian crises, natural disasters can create political tests for elected officials, particularly in the closing weeks of a presidential campaign.

At the beginning of a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday, Harris said, "We will stand with these communities for as long as it takes to make sure that they are able to recover and rebuild."

Trump, speaking in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, described the storm as "a big monster hurricane" that had "hit a lot harder than anyone even thought possible."

He criticized Harris for attending weekend "fundraising events with her radical left lunatic donors" in California while the storm hit.

"She ought to be down in the area where she should be," Trump said.

He escalated his criticism on Truth Social, his social media website, where he said that he's bringing "lots of relief material, including fuel, equipment, water, and other things" to Georgia.

Trump said he wanted to stop in North Carolina but is holding off because access and communication is limited in hard-hit communities.

Democrats increase campaign spending in Florida

With five weeks until Election Day, national Democrats are dolling out new funds to Florida.

Florida Democrats say there’s enough time for the dollars to make an impact, but the state’s Republicans say the efforts will be “unsuccessful.”

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried says the Democratic National Committee is pouring another $400,000 into Florida, bringing the total spend to more than $1 million in the state.

“This funding will help us reach out to our key coalitions, reinforce our party infrastructure and put more boots on the ground to elect Democrats by making Florida a priority," Fried said. "The DNC is investing in success, not just for 2024 but for many election cycles to come."

Last week, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also announced a multi-million dollar TV ad buy in the Florida Senate race pitting Democratic former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell against incumbent Republican Sen. Rick Scott.

And, The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently added Florida’s 13th Congressional District to its “Red to Blue” list. In That race, Democrat Whitney Fox is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.

The moves come as recent polls have shown those races could be close. Democrats also have been looking for new opportunities to flip Senate seats as polling show incumbent Democratic senators in Montana and Ohio could be in jeopardy.

Florida Republicans downplay Democrats’ assertions that the state is in play.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he hopes Vice President Kamala Harris, “wastes a lot of time and resources in Florida.”

And, in a statement Monday, Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power said: “The latest attempt by the National Democrats to funnel millions of out-of-state dollars into Florida will be as unsuccessful as the last two.”

There are currently more than 1 million more registered Republicans in Florida than registered Democrats.

But, Fried said Democrats are putting up a fight with 1.5 million door knocks, more than 6 million phone calls, and 13 million text messages sent in their get out the vote efforts. 

Live Updates: Meeting voters across America on a 10-day road trip

With the presidential election just around the corner, Front Porch Politics Host Tim Boyum is hitting the road on a trip that is sure to be packed with adventure and the unexpected as he talks with everyday Americans about the issues that matter to them. 

He takes the pulse of towns and cities across the country while he travels on a 10-day journey, starting with a plane ride from Raleigh, N.C., to New York City. Then, he is making a cross-country jaunt, traveling through the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest and ending in Los Angeles. 

Tim will speak with local leaders as well as characters with personality and perspective as he travels, and he is of course leaving time and space to fix flat tires and see random roadside attractions. 

From statues and monuments in the Northeast to a diary farm in the Midwest, and on to an international hot-air balloon festival in New Mexico, Tim is documenting it all.