ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) – President Barack Obama is cutting short a Florida campaign swing following the deadly Colorado movie theater shooting.
The rampage has shaken up the presidential race. Obama issued a statement calling the shooting “horrific”. Republican Mitt Romney said he also was dismayed.
Informed at dawn at his hotel near West Palm Beach, Fla., Obama plans to speak about the tragedy at a shortened campaign appearance in Fort Myers. He canceled plans to speak at a rally later near Orlando.
Aides say Romney also will speak about the shooting at an event in Bow, N.H.
Press secretary Jay Carney says Obama spoke by phone with FBI Director Robert Mueller (MUHL’-ur) and counterterrorism chief John Brennan and has been told there does not appear to be any “nexus” with terrorism in the attack.