A looming Hurricane Sandy has brought a new level of uncertainty onto the 2012 presidential campaign trail, which will also serve to alter early voting opportunities just a mere nine days before Election Day.

President Barack Obama coined the storm "serious and big" after a briefing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) headquarters.  Obama warned residents within the storm's projected path "to take this very seriously."

The President also cancelled campaign trips to both Virginia and Colorado, which were scheduled to happen early next week, the last full week before the election.  Sandy's upcoming landfall will surely add a new factor into the dead heat presidential race.

Former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney also halted his campaign plans in Virginia on Sunday instead making his way to Ohio.  Obama was also set on traveling to the Buckeye state, but on Monday morning.  For the time being, the President seemingly has no intentions of returning to the campaign trail until Tuesday in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

While Sandy may have altered Romney's campaign schedule, it's still uncertain as to whether the Republican candidate would be able to return to Virginia in the coming days. 

While making an appearance on the "Today" show on Sunday, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R) stated that he wasn't concerned about losing power and other potential threats from Sandy decreasing the voting in his state.

"It's going to be, probably, seven days from the time the storm passes 'til Election Day.'  We've already taken precautions to move up polling places to a higher spot for restoration.  The power companies are well aware of that.  So I don't think it's going to interfere with voting."

Although Romney didn't directly address the storm, his running mate, Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan did urge voters in Ohio to keep East Coast residents in their thoughts and prayers.

Tags: mitt romney President Obama 2012 presidential election television