A political cartoon from late October 2012 uses the arrival of Hurricane Sandy to illustrate the final stretch of the presidential race.

The drawing shows two boats labeled Romney and Obama caught in large waves marked with the name Sandy. Debris flies through the air while both vessels tilt and take on water. The top text states Surge before the election.

Hurricane Sandy made landfall in the Northeast on October 29, 2012, days before the November 6 election. The storm forced cancellations of campaign stops for both President Obama and Mitt Romney. Meteorologists had warned of a powerful system combining with a nor'easter.

The cartoon captures the shared challenge the weather posed to the campaigns. It places both candidates in identical rough conditions without favoring one side. Observers noted the timing added uncertainty to an already close contest focused on economic issues and storm recovery plans.