President Obama Friday turned down an invitation from Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to visit earthquake-rattled Louisa County during his bus tour of Virginia this week. McDonnell had invited Obama to visit the nearby county in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's denial of Virginia's application for aid for Louisa homeowners.
"I think it was certainly frustrating for us [that Obama turned down the offer]," McDonnell spokesperson Jeff Caldwell said. "The request that we sent in was just to ask [Obama] to come by Louisa County on his tour and get a good look at the destruction, so that when our appeal is sent in to FEMA he can make a more educated decision."
McDonnell still plans to appeal his request to FEMA for aid to help citizens who were affected by last month's 5.8 magnitude earthquake. The epicenter of the Aug. 23 earthquake that shook the East Coast was in Mineral, Va., a small city in Louisa County. Louisa needs extensive repairs as it sustained nearly $15 million worth of damages to residential properties, most of which were uninsured, Caldwell said.
Obama started his three-day visit to Virginia and North Carolina yesterday for his American Job Acts tour to discuss jobs and the economy. He will visit the cities of Emporia, Hampton and Richmond.
Kyle Kondik, director of communications for the University's Center for Politics, said Obama's decision not to visit Louisa is not surprising.
"The president is coming to North Carolina and Virginia this week for a campaign-style tour; getting involved in Virginia's spat with FEMA doesn't do much for him politically," Kondik said.
After Louisa County was denied a presidential visit, McDonnell announced Friday that he will donate $2,500 to the Louisa Earthquake Recovery Fund and $2,500 to the Louisa County Public School Disaster Relief Fund from his political action committee.
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