Mitt Romney is deploying his campaign bus in Virginia on Monday, but not so that the Republican presidential candidate can make his closing arguments in the battleground state.

With eight days remaining until Election Day and a major storm slamming the East Coast, Romney is putting some of his resources onto preparation and relief efforts. President Barack Obama, meanwhile, canceled Monday and Tuesday campaign events and returned to the White House to monitor the storm and federal government response.

"Governor Romney's concern is the safety and well-being of those in the path of Hurricane Sandy," Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul said Monday morning.

The campaign is loading supplies into a campaign bus for delivery in Virginia. In Virginia, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania -- all battleground states in the presidential campaign and all expected to be impacted by this storm -- Team Romney is collecting supplies at their campaign offices for local relief efforts.

Obama's campaign said is watching the storm and continuing to focus on the election in areas where the storm is not hitting.

"The campaign is closely monitoring the storm and we are taking all necessary precautions to make sure our staff and volunteers are safe," spokesman Adam Fetcher said. "Where it's safe to do so, our historic grassroots organization is running at full speed in eastern battleground states to persuade undecided voters and get our supporters out to the polls between now and Election Day."

Both campaigns launched digital efforts, posting links to the Red Cross' donations site to their websites and social media pages.

Both Romney and Obama's campaign said they were suspending email fundraising messages to supporters from Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, CNN reported on Sunday.

The candidates modified their campaign schedules, pulling out of or canceling about a dozen events between them. Romney scrapped several Sunday events in Virginia and campaigns on Monday in Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Obama returned on Monday to the White House to monitor the storm and federal response. Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters on Monday that Obama would meet with top administration and cabinet officials.