Obama visits storm-battered New Jersey

President Barack Obama reviewed damage inflicted by Hurricane Irene in northern New Jersey on Sunday, promising residents, “We’ll be there to help.”

Obama visited the towns of Paterson and Wayne, where residents showed the high-water marks from the flooding spawned by last week’s hurricane. The Passaic River and one of its tributaries, the Pompton, overflowed their banks through the area after Irene dumped heavy rains across the Northeast.

During the visit, Obama hugged several people, including one woman who was overcome with tears, and at one point he theatrically rummaged through his pockets for change.

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