When campaigns come calling, locals pay dearly

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Video: Decision '08

Turning Point: 2008
Nov. 5: NBC's Tom Brokaw recaps the historic election of America's first black president. Produced by msnbc.com's Kevin Flynn.

Looking back at the historic race

NBC calls an Obama win

'Change has come to America'

Decision '08 Election Night video

Barack Obama victory speech

John McCain concession speech

The candidates in pictures

Reuters	Final push Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain make their final appeals to voters.
AP file	John McCain The Republican presidential candidates' life has revolved around the public need.
Punahoe Schools via AP	The life of Barack Obama The path of the president-elect, from childhood to party leader
The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman via AP	Sarah Palin The fast-track governor's rise from Alaska beauty queen to governor to John McCain’s running mate.
AP file	Joseph Biden The senator's legacy of public service and life filled with second chances.

‘Sense of community obligation’
Likewise, Jeff Rea, mayor of Mishawaka, Ind., never sought reimbursement for $2,000 in unbudgeted costs his city incurred when the Clinton campaign came to town last spring.

“We ... feel a certain sense of community obligation to work with the FBI and Secret Service when they call for help,” Rea said.

But some residents say they shouldn't have to bear the burden.

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“The campaign should pay,” said Dan Aryea of Mishawaka. “That’s what they raise money for, for things like that.”

Debbie Greenslees, another resident, agreed, saying, “Our county and city government are already taxed.”

Spokesmen for the Obama and McCain campaigns said they could not comment on security matters. But Obama acknowledged the issue last month when he explained why he didn’t visit Mississippi as Hurricane Ike approached the Gulf Coast.

“The thing that I always am concerned about in the middle of a storm is whether we’re drawing resources away from folks on the ground,” Obama said. “Because [of] the Secret Service and various security requirements, sometimes it pulls police, fire and other departments away from concentrating on the job.”

McCain took a different tack in June, turning down a request from Iowa Gov. Chet Culver to cancel a campaign visit while resources were diverted to recovering from floods that swamped the state.

David Roederer, McCain’s state campaign chairman, said aides made sure McCain’s trip wouldn’t hamper the recovery operation. But Obama canceled his June visit at the request of state officials.