Meteorologist Lee Goldberg, who pulled yeoman's duties last week and, in my opinion, saved lives by letting us all know where NOT to be, is tracking the latest storm for us, tonight at 11. And remember when we used to have a storm of the century every century? Now we're having them regularly. Can we still call them storms of the century? I'm just sayin'.
I've "talked" to so many of you through social media - Facebook and Twitter - that some man have already heard this, but I've been touched by how much you all depended on us for life-saving information this past week, and how much we've depended on your as news gatherers, sending us information and pictures and video. And we thank you for it. You've been our eyes and ears, letting us know how hard hit your area was, what was needed, and what wasn't getting done.
We view staying up in continuous coverage mode as a public service - the highest calling of what we do, and the reason many of us got into this business. We did ride this storm out with you, and you with us. But sadly, some of us didn't make it - 52 in New York State (40 of those in NYC), 24 in New Jersey, 5 in Connecticut. Hundreds of thousands are still without electricity, and millions are dealing with a gasoline shortage.
The storm that's coming on Wednesday poses another big threat for our coastlines, and for an area already battered - well, we just don't need it. We'll have the latest at 11.
Also at 11, we'll preview tomorrow's Presidential election. Oh, you forgot there was an election? Our political reporter Dave Evans is in Chicago, where Pres. Obama will arrive after midnight, and spend tomorrow. Mitt Romney will be in Boston later Tuesday, after a last-minute pitch in Ohio and Pennsylvania, which shows where he thinks he needs to still try to secure some support. Will we know who the next President will be before the sunrises on Wednesday morning? Or will be have a dragged-out ballot count, as we did in 2000? If you believe the polls - and a lot of people don't think we should - they show that Mitt Romney is ahead in the popular vote, but Pres. Obama is ahead in the Electoral College. That's what happened in the Bush-Gore election, Al Gore winning the popular vote but Bush winning the electoral part of the equation, and therefore the Presidency.
We'll see.
And a reminder, this is a "Day of Giving" on every ABC TV show, as part of The Walt Disney Company's effort with the American Red Cross to raise money and help victims of Hurricane Sandy. Call 1-800-Helpnow to contribute.
We'll also have any breaking news of the night, plus Rob Powers with the sports of the night. I hope you can join Sade Baderinwa and me, tonight at 11.
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