Obama: I can raise volunteers for hurricane relief

Campaigning here yesterday alongside Joe Biden, Barack Obama said he was ready to mobilize an army of volunteers to assist with hurricane relief in the Gulf states and could go there, his aides said, if it becomes clear that his presence won't drain much-needed local and state resources.

Obama has been in touch with Louisiana officials and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and said he is monitoring the situation, but stressed the need for residents to leave the area.

"There is enormous urgency in making sure that people take the evacuation seriously. I talked to Lieutenant Governor Mitch [Landrieu]. ... They are doing everything they can to execute an effective evacuation, but we need people's cooperation," Obama said after attending a church service in Lima. "That is the message that I am going to be sending throughout the day."