Story highlights Obama's and Romney's campaigns cancel events after Colorado shootings

Both campaigns pulled their advertising in Colorado

Obama: "If there's anything to take away from this tragedy, it's the reminder that life is very fragile"

Romney: "Our hearts break with the sadness of this unspeakable tragedy"

President Barack Obama's and Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns hit pause on the partisan bickering and were united in expressing sadness and heartbreak over the deadly shooting in Aurora, Colorado

Obama spoke for about six minutes Friday morning at a Fort Myers, Florida, convention center full of supporters who awoke this morning thinking they were going to a spirited rally. Instead, they like the rest of the nation, learned 24-year-old gunman James Holmes reportedly burst into a darkened movie theater, tossed in tear gas, and loosed a barrage of gunfire on audience members during an early Friday morning screening of the new Batman movie.

In Fort Myers, there was an American flag, but no Obama campaign signs with the now familiar "Forward" campaign slogan.

There was no music. The mood was somber.

"What matters ... is not the trivial things which so often consume us. ... Ultimately it's how we choose to treat each other and how we love one another," Obama told the gathering.

Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre The public gets its first glimpse of James Holmes, then 24, the suspect in the Colorado theater shooting during his initial court appearance July 23, 2012. With his hair dyed reddish-orange, Holmes, here with public defender Tamara Brady, showed little emotion. He is accused of opening fire in a movie theater July 20, 2012, in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 people and wounding 70. Holmes faces 166 counts, almost all alleging murder or attempted murder. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. More photos: Mourning the victims of the Colorado theater massacre Hide Caption 1 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Police release the official photo from Holmes' booking after the shooting. Hide Caption 2 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Holmes often had a blank stare during his July 23, 2012, court appearance, seeming to be in a daze. Hide Caption 3 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Victims and their relatives and journalists watch the proceedings in 2012. Hide Caption 4 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Flags fly at half-staff on July 23, 2012, at the Arapahoe County Courthouse in Centennial, Colorado, where the movie theater shooting suspect had his first court appearance. The murder counts against Holmes carry a possible death penalty. Hide Caption 5 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers talks to reporters July 23, 2012, before heading into the courthouse. The murder counts against Holmes carry a possible death penalty. Hide Caption 6 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Family members of the victims arrive at the courthouse July 23, 2012, for the suspect's first court appearance. Hide Caption 7 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre The Century Aurora 16 multiplex in Aurora becomes a place of horror after a gunman opened fire July 20, 2012, in a crowded theater. Hide Caption 8 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Holmes is accused of opening fire during a midnight screening of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises." Holmes purchased four weapons and more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition, police say. Hide Caption 9 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Police investigate outside the Century 16 multiplex July 21, 2012, a day after the mass shooting. Hide Caption 10 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Agents search the suspect's car outside the theater. Hide Caption 11 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Aurora police escort a sand-filled dump truck containing improvised explosive devices removed from Holmes' booby-trapped apartment on July 21, 2012. Authorities have said they believe the suspect rigged his place before leaving for the movie theater. Hide Caption 12 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Police break a window at the suspect's apartment July 20, 2012, in Aurora. Hide Caption 13 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Law enforcement officers speak with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, center, outside the suspect's apartment July 21, 2012. Hide Caption 14 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Law enforcement officers prepare to disarm the booby-trapped apartment July 21, 2012. Hide Caption 15 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Officials tow cars outside Holmes' apartment July 21, 2012. Police disassembled devices and trip wires set up in the apartment. Hide Caption 16 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Officers prepare to place an explosive device inside the apartment. Hide Caption 17 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Debris flies out a window, right, after law enforcement officers detonate an explosive device inside the apartment July 21, 2012. Hide Caption 18 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre People mourn the victims during a vigil behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora. Hide Caption 19 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre A woman grieves during a vigil for victims behind the theater. Hide Caption 20 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre A distraught woman receives counseling from the Rev. Quincy Shannon, left, in front of Gateway High School in Aurora, where the families of the missing met after the shooting. Hide Caption 21 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Lin Gan of Aurora holds back tears as she speaks to reporters about her experience in the Century 16 theater. Hide Caption 22 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre People embrace before a vigil for victims behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers. Hide Caption 23 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Investigators work on evidence near the apartment of James Holmes on July 20, 2012. Hide Caption 24 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Members of the Aurora Police Department SWAT unit walk near the Holmes' apartment. Hide Caption 25 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Television news crews gather in front of the home of Robert and Arlene Holmes, parents of suspect James Holmes, in San Diego on July 21, 2012. Hide Caption 26 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre A popcorn box lies on the ground outside the Century 16 movie theater. Hide Caption 27 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Adariah Legarreta, 4, is comforted by her grandmother Rita Abeyta near the Century 16 Theater in Aurora. Hide Caption 28 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Jessica Ghawi, an aspiring sportscaster, was one of the victims. Hide Caption 29 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre A woman waits for news outside Gateway High School, a few blocks from the scene of the shooting at the Century Aurora 16. Hide Caption 30 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Aurora police chief Daniel J. Oates speaks at a press conference near the Century 16 Theater on July 20, 2012. Hide Caption 31 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Agents search the trash container outside the suspect's apartment in Aurora. Hide Caption 32 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre A Federal ATF officer carries protective gear onsite at the home of the shooting suspect. Hide Caption 33 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre President Obama speaks on the shootings at a July 20, 2012, event in Fort Myers, Florida. Hide Caption 34 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Moviegoers are interviewed at the Century Aurora 16. Hide Caption 35 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Officers gather at the theater July 20, 2012. Hide Caption 36 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Investigators were a common sight at the theater on July 20, 2012. Hide Caption 37 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Authorities gather at the shooting suspect's apartment building in Aurora. Police broke a second-floor window to look for explosives the suspect claimed were in the apartment. Hide Caption 38 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Screaming, panicked moviegoers scrambled to escape from the black-clad gunman, who wore a gas mask and randomly shot as he walked up the theater's steps, witnesses said. Hide Caption 39 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Onlookers gather outside the Century Aurora 16 theater. Hide Caption 40 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre A woman sits on top of her car near the crime scene. Hide Caption 41 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Police block access to the Town Center mall after the shooting. Hide Caption 42 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Cell phone video taken by someone at the theater showed scores of people screaming and fleeing the building. Some, like this man, had blood on their clothes. Hide Caption 43 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre Witnesses told KUSA the gunman kicked in an emergency exit door and threw a smoke bomb into the darkened theater before opening fire. Hide Caption 44 of 45 Photos: Colorado movie theater massacre What is believed to be the suspect's car is examined after the shooting. Hide Caption 45 of 45

"There will be other days for politics," the president continued. "This will be a day for prayer and reflection."

Obama canceled afternoon events and headed for the White House, where he was to meet with FBI director Jack Lew, Homeland Security Adviser John Brennan and other key staff to get an update on the Aurora shooting.

Obama was in Palm Beach, Florida, in the middle of a two-day swing through the battleground state when Homeland Security Adviser John Brennan told him of the shooting at 5:26 a.m. The president spoke first with Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan and then called Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper from his motorcade from the Fort Myers airport to the convention center.

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The Obama campaign's scripted attack for the day on how Romney's "economic agenda would be devastating for small businesses," was scrapped . The campaign raced to pull down ads in Colorado, designed to point out the differences between Obama and Romney.

"We have asked affiliates to pull down our contrast advertising for the time being. It takes time for stations to be able to do this, but we are making every effort," Obama's traveling campaign press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Vice President Joe Biden and first lady Michelle Obama also canceled their events.

Romney, who spent Thursday attending meetings at his campaign headquarters in Boston, also used his first scheduled appearance of the day in Bow, New Hampshire, where to address the shootings. Romney and his wife, Ann, also canceled their events.

A top Romney adviser said the candidate made the decision to set aside his usual stump speech and wrote a new one to offer his own personal reflections on the tragedy.

"He wanted to say something," the adviser told CNN.

In a speech that was steeped in Biblical references, Romney said, "This is a time for each of us to look into our hearts and remember how much we love one another."

"The apostle Paul explained, 'Blessed be God who comforteth us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble," Romney said.

He, too, stood on a stage that was stripped of campaign banners and music.

The Romney campaign also pulled its ads in Colorado until further notice, according to campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul. Major Republican super PAC American Crossroads and its affiliate Crossroads GPS have also requested that all television and Internet ads in Colorado be suspended for the time being.

Both Obama and Romney made the right call, political analysts say.

"No decent person hears about a mass murder and thinks immediately of politics," said Democratic strategist and CNN political contributor Paul Begala. "President Obama handled it just right, speaking as our national Pater Familias, offering comfort, canceling his campaign appearances and pulling down his negative ads in Colorado. Mitt Romney, too, wisely offered prayerful condolences and did not seek to politicize this tragedy."

"Will this permanently alter the political discourse? Of course not," Begala said.

One of the nation's most outspoken advocates of stricter gun-control laws saw the tragedy a underscoring the need for both Obama and Romney to address the issue.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said in a radio interview Friday the two candidates for president needed to take a firmer line in addressing gun violence.

"Soothing words are nice, but maybe it's time that the two people who want to be president of the United States stand up and tell us what they are going to do about it, because this is obviously a problem across the country," Bloomberg said on WOR Radio's "The John Gambling Show."

Gun control supporters, such as Bloomberg, said Friday's tragedy should spark greater focus on how guns reach killers.

"The horrific nightmare of a mass shooting on innocent civilians in a crowded public place has, sadly, come true once again," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-New York, whose husband was killed in the 1993 shooting on the Long Island Railroad and son was seriously injured. "We as a nation should also not continue to ignore avenues to prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future."

The National Rifle Association was cautious in its response.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the community. NRA will not have any further comment until all the facts are known," said Andrew Arulanandam, director of public affairs for the NRA.