Is Sandy the Swing Vote?

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Unless you live under a rock you might have heard there is a hurricane headed for the shores of the northeastern seaboard of the U.S.

Where the hurricane will hit is not 100% clear, but it is on path to strike at least one or more election-battleground states, likely making landfall a full week before Election Day on Nov. 6. But what if it does some real damage in urban areas?

It is no mystery that the Obama camp is dependent on the urban demographic. Imagine if this real damage successfully uproots some lives and leaves some people homeless for a period. The odds that getting out to vote will be a priority for these folks is significantly diminished.

Point Romney.

If polling areas are destroyed there is also likely to be confusion around even where to vote. Early voting requires advance organization, so if it districts have not been set up for early voting by now, it is likely not an option.

The Obama camp has been pushing early voting with their massive ground game and the poll numbers for early voting shows so far a landslide for team Obama. So the question would be, do the catch-up votes coming on Nov. 6 show up after a catastrophe?

Point Obama.

The largest battleground state in Sandy's current trajectory is Virginia. While it isn't as important as the heartland states, no one will argue that every vote counts and both sides know it. In such a tight race, every state in the battleground states is important.

Even worse, what if somehow the hurricane delays a successful end to the campaigns on Nov. 6? Let's say Congress decides an extension is in order for even two more weeks. I'm pretty certain the markets wouldn't like that; I know I couldn't take two more weeks of waiting.

This is all speculation and "what if's". It isn't even clear which candidate Sandy could end up helping or hurting.

But given the raucousness of this election, wouldn't it be ironic if Mother Nature has the last word?

This article is commentary by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.