It’s on y’all. We’re only a week away from the election, and both candidates are neck and neck in a race that may be so close, it is not decided on Election Day.

But the weather has little regard for the election. As Sandy bombard’s the east coast, the storm has done more than flood and destroy. Both candidates have slowed their campaigns activities in lieu of the storm. Romney completely cancelled his events scheduled in Virginia and Ohio, which could deter the campaigns ability to pickup the vote in these key swing states.

Furthermore, the Hill says the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported it will try it’s best to release September’s unemployment rate Friday, but the storm may result otherwise:

The employees at the Bureau of Labor Statistics are working hard to ensure the timely release of employment data on Friday, November 2. It is our intention that Friday will be business as usual regarding the October Employment Situation Report.

One of the biggest influencers of the election could be whether unemployment ticks up or down. If it decreases, the Administration could receive more undecided voters. If it increases, the Romney campaign has extra fodder that the President’s economic policies have failed.

Will Sandy influence the economy? National Journal reports yes, but not in the long run. While production will slow in the short run, spending on rebuilding the east coast will spur some growth, albeit not the kind of growth that is sustainable in the long run.

So if you’re affected of the storm, stay safe and dry. If you’re not, keep an eye on the campaigns in the next week and pay close attention to both candidates’ economic plans. Petty campaign tactics that scare people into voting for them (see Liberty is No War on Women) shouldn’t distract from the real issues our nation is facing, like the economy and the role of government in moving the country forward. The next seven days could decide the next four years — and beyond.