Senator Barack Obama has cancelled his eagerly-awaited appearance on tonight’s season premiere of Saturday Night Live out of respect for victims of Hurricane Ike, which has devastated parts of coastal Texas.

The Democatic presidential hopeful had been scheduled to appear in a sketch on tonight’s episode of SNL, hosted by Olympic champion Michael Phelps.

“In light of the unfolding crisis in Texas, Sen. Obama has decided it is no longer appropriate to appear on ‘Saturday Night Live’ tomorrow evening,” the Obama Campaign said in a press statement late Friday.