Obama hits campaign trail as storm cleanup gathers pace

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - President Barack Obama was to resume campaigning on Thursday after a pause caused by the US east coast's worst storm in generations.

Home owners across a swathe of the north-eastern United States returned to properties ravaged by fire and flood, which early estimates say may cost insurance companies more than US$15 billion (S$18.3 billion).

At least 64 people died in superstorm Sandy, which rampaged through the US North-east on Monday night, and officials said the count could still rise as rescuers searched house-to-house through coastal towns.

After a three-day hiatus, Mr Obama was to return to the campaign trail, boosted in his re-election bid by a resounding endorsement of his leadership from the Republican governor of New Jersey, who had been one of his fiercest critics.