Obama Campaign Arm Robocalls For Creigh Deeds

In a sign of increased engagement from the White House in Virginia's gubernatorial race, Barack Obama's campaign arm has launched a series of robocalls urging supporters to help elect Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds.

The call, which was made to this reporter's cell phone, was narrated by Mitch Stewart, Executive Director of Organizing for America and paid for by the Democratic National Committee.

Stewart urges recipients to help "elect Creigh Deeds the next governor of the commonwealth," before reminding them that "get out the vote" operations "start this weekend."

"Will you help elect Creigh Deeds governor?" the robocall ends.

The assist to the Deeds campaign comes at a time when Obama is being pressed to provide more political support to Democratic candidates during the off-year elections. The president has, by and large, laid low in the two gubernatorial contests -- giving speeches for Deeds and Gov. John Corzine (D-NJ), but little else.

The DNC confirmed the authenticity of the call (though, since I received one, confirmation likely wasn't needed). The committee had already commissioned a robocall on Deed's behalf -- last week -- to help recruit volunteers in northern Virginia.

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[tchristin]

02:25 PM on 10/19/2009

I watched the debate this weekend and was really amazed. Creigh Deeds has some great plans and is fighting a well heeled Republican machine in Virginia. Help support his election by going to ActBlue.

http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18661

[rockymountainhigh62]

04:42 PM on 10/14/2009

Deeds is Doomed!!

[Gloriagoldberg]

02:26 PM on 10/14/2009

I think Creigh Deeds has much more specific and detailed plans for transportation that the Republican guy - Deeds is going to blow it out of the water

LAAAAAAAAAAND SLLLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE

[meanguy]

03:10 PM on 10/30/2009

'dirty deeds' is done...dirt cheap

[SizeMatters]

12:26 PM on 10/14/2009

Robocalls to robovoters. The call begins with a code word to reprogram the "yes we can"ers to support Creigh Deeds. Creepy.

[Jamie Kowalski]

11:59 AM on 10/14/2009

I hate robocalls with a passion. But this Virginian is voting for Deeds. He's not exactly a gem, but the alternative makes me shudder.

[itys]

10:17 AM on 10/14/2009

FEAR. DO YOU FEEL IT. FEAR.

FEAR. YOU DEMS ARE ON YOUR WAY OUT. FEAR.

[Ohsherrie]

11:13 AM on 10/14/2009

You're damned right. I'm terrified of the very idea of having another republican fiasco like Gilmore as governor of this state and from all indications McDonnell would be even worse. I've met McDonnell and he veritably reeks of sanctimonious, self-righteous self-absorption.

[jennylynn]

02:25 PM on 10/14/2009

Thank Goodness.They have done nothing except spend more money.

[CarmanK]

02:43 AM on 10/14/2009

I think it is a moral obligation for democrats to work to elect Deeds as governor of VA. We cannot stand by and let the likes of a cloaked evangelical win the governor's race in this important state. So, it is a good thing that the DNC does something besides let McConnell buy his was to the mansion.

[eweqo]

01:34 AM on 10/14/2009

nothing is more motivating than a robocall for a robocandidate.

[meanguy]

03:12 PM on 10/30/2009

but only when the call is answered by a robovoter...looks like there aren't as many out there as last november

[Rmath]

12:53 AM on 10/14/2009

Slagle, I'll send you a sympathy card right after the midterm elections next November.

[go23]

10:52 PM on 10/13/2009

Will SNL bring back "Robocall" guy? That is what I want to know

[mick7191]

08:06 AM on 10/14/2009

Only if it's not funny.

[Altruth]

09:34 PM on 10/13/2009

If Deeds lose it is his fault - last month he trashed talked the Democratic Leadership and started to pull away from them when President Obama's poll numbers dropped. Back then I stated in a post: "Deeds good luck with that, I hope you don't expect any help from the DNC or the Leadership" now he is behind in the polls he want all of the help he can get!

[Ping]

10:43 PM on 10/13/2009

Like you know anything about Virginia.

[Altruth]

10:58 PM on 10/13/2009

You didn’t read my post did you? I am not talking VA I am talking about biting the hand that feeds you. Deeds now needs the help of the DNC and Democratic leadership, the same groups he pulled away from last month.

[tiredofit10]

08:59 PM on 10/13/2009

the local paper has McDonnell up by 8 per cent according to a Mason Dixon poll. They did state however that at this time 4 years ago that McDonnell led Deeds by 8 percentage points also and Mcdonnell ended up with winning the Lt Gov position by 270 votes - there was a runoff. So....... anything can happen.

[Angelus2007]

01:10 AM on 10/14/2009

True, but many people only use name recognition when polled about other elections than the main ones. So if they know McDonnell by name, they will say him, then when they get to the polls they voted for a Dem for Governor, and figure they will vote for the Dem for Lt. Gov. This time, name recognition isn't as much a factor, if you don't know who Deeds or McDonnell are you probably aren't going to vote in an off-year election.

I follow politics and live in N VA, and I don't even know who is running against Bolling, I just know he is a Republican so I am voting for the other guy...

[ewoman]

09:15 AM on 10/14/2009

Want to know who is running against Bolling? It's a woman named Jody Wagner. Yes, please do vote for her.

[rssrai]

08:36 PM on 10/13/2009

I believe that Deeds will win in the end because Virginia women do not trus McConnell.

[SCVADem]

11:53 PM on 10/13/2009

I sure the heck don't, that's for sure.

[meanguy]

03:13 PM on 10/30/2009

the latest polling shows deeds even trailing on 'women's issues'

[jennylynn]

02:28 PM on 10/14/2009

They trusted BO for hope and change.......so who cares?

[DocSyracuse]

08:30 PM on 10/13/2009

Do "robocalls" ever really sway anyone's opinion? When I pick up my phone and hear a scratchy, pre-recorded message loop the call ends immediately.

[PoliticalAmazon]

08:57 PM on 10/13/2009

I agree.

But I don't think the campaigns would spend the resources if they didn't get enough return for the investment. So there must be voters out there who are just waiting for a complete stranger to call them up and tell them who to vote for.

[ReedYoung]

09:03 PM on 10/13/2009

These weren't intended to persuade. They were also not random; they were to supporters who had signed up to receive phone calls to help on campaigns.

[Oldtt]

11:43 PM on 10/13/2009

Is Sam Stein one of the supporters you mentioned?

[TimnySlagle]

08:19 PM on 10/13/2009

The Democrat Party is pulling out all the stops?

Why? Because Deeds is like 20 points behind in a state that went Blue in 2008.

You people are finished!

Onward to 2010

[CommonSenseMom]

08:29 PM on 10/13/2009

Oh yes, a republican Virginia governor is going to ruin the Democratic Party.

Dream on. If McDonnel wins it is no big deal.

[TimnySlagle]

09:03 PM on 10/13/2009

Didn't say that.

I'm pointing out how far you people have slid in one year. Trillion dollar deficits and 10% unemployment isn't sitting too well with the American public.

In nine short months you reminded Americans why they stopped voting Democrat.

[Angelus2007]

01:13 AM on 10/14/2009

I don't agree with Timny, but it could be the crack in the door the republicans need to get some seats back 2010. With such dominance over the last 4 years by democrats, there should be no way that republicans should win big elections in states that went blue only 1 year ago. I can understand Jersey a little because they hate Corzine, Virginians don't hate Deeds...

[xlntcat]

04:58 AM on 10/14/2009

Haven't been keeping up have you. Deed was within the margin or error but McConnell has pulled away over the last 10 days and is now 8 point in the lead