WEBVTT REPORTER AFTER HURRICANE MICHAEL DEVASTATED THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE, CANDIDATES IN THE STATE’S KEY RACES ARE PUTTING A PAUSE ON POLITICS. BUT IT’S NOT A FULL STOP, SAYS NBC’S MEET THE PRESS MODERATOR CHUCK TODD. >> WHAT WAS UNIQUE WITH THIS STORM IS THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME WE SAW MANY GROUPS DECIDE NOT TO PULL THEIR NEGATIVE ADS DURING THE STORM ITSELF. SOME OF THE CAMPAIGNS DID, BUT NOT ALL THE CAMPAIGNS. AND THAT IS AN UNUSUAL SO I THINK IT JUST SHOWS YOU HO TIGHT THE RACES ARE. REPORTER: TODD SAYS THE STORM PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TALLAHASSEE MAYOR ANDREW GILLUM IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR AND GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT IN HIS BID TO UNSEAT SENATOR BILL NELSON, BECAUSE BOTH GILLUM AND SCOTT HAVE A DIRECT ROLE IN DISASTER RECOVERY. >> IT’S A TOUGH MOMENT I THINK FOR BOTH BILL NELSON AND RON DESANTIS, BECAUSE ANDREW GILLUM AND RICK SCOTT BOTH HAVE DAY JOBS THAT PUT THEM AT THE CENTER OF DOING THE WORK THAT THEY WERE ELECTED TO D >> AS SOON AS THE STORM ENDED, EVEN BEFORE IT ENDED, WE HAD SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS COMING SOUTH. REPORTER: FOR HIS PART, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAYS HE’S TURNED HIS RALLIES INTO SUPPLY DRIVES. >> PEOPLE NEED ASSISTANCE RIGHT NOW SO WE WANT TO DO ALL WE CAN TO BE HELPFUL. REPORTER: AND BILL NELSON IS ALSO FOCUSED ON THE STORM VICTIMS. >> FEMA’S GOT TO GET THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF BLUE TARPS IN. REPORTER: WITH THE RECOVERY EFFORT STILL IN THE VERY EARLY STAGES, IT’S A FOCUS THAT'