Obama Calls On Blacks To Vote

WASHINGTON - The Democratic National Committee begins airing its latest radio ad, this one featuring President Barack Obama speaking to voters about the stakes in this Fall’s elections. The ad, entitled “Vote,” is part of the Democratic Party’s unprecedented midterm election investment of $3 million in radio, print and online advertising focused on the African American community.

In “Vote,” President Obama calls on African Americans, and all voters, to vote this November to continue moving our country forward and not “sit this one out.” Of the stakes in this election President Obama says “we can’t let this country fall backwards because the rest of us didn’t care to fight.”

“President Obama speaking directly to voters and making the case that this election is critical to his continued success and our efforts to move America forward is powerful,” said DNC Chairman Tim Kaine. “There is no greater voice in our party than the President’s and in this ad he plainly lays out what is at stake this November. From stopping insurance company discrimination to reforming education the President and Democrats are moving our country forward and we can’t afford to go back; there is too much at stake. The President’s and the DNC’s commitment to reaching out to voters is a reflection of how important this election is and how committed we are to educating, engaging, and empowering voters this November.”

The President’s ad will air on the nationally syndicated talks shows of Tom Joyner, Steve Harvey , Michael Baisden, Yolanda Adams, Russ Parr, Bev Smith, Doug Banks, Coco Brother, Al Sharpton and Warren Ballentine. In addition, the ad will air regionally in key markets in Ohio, Florida, Missouri, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Specific markets and stations can be found below.

The DNC aired its first radio spot in the African American community just after Labor Day, the earliest the Democratic Party has ever gone on the air on African America outlets in a midterm election. The initial offering ran on radio stations in St. Louis, Cincinnati and Philadelphia and nationally on the syndicated talk shows of Tom Joyner, Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden. Additionally, just last week, the DNC released an ad featuring Civil Rights icon Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery in which he calls upon African Americans to vote this November to ensure the change we all voted for in 2008 is protected. In addition to the DNC’s current investments in African America radio, the DNC has also invested heavily in newspaper and online advertisements in key markets with ads like this one here: http://my.democrats.org/OurPresidentAd.

The DNC’s paid advertising effort is just one component of the Democratic Party’s unprecedented effort to engage voters across the country, including in the African American community, for this Fall’s elections. As part of the DNC’s $50 million Vote 2010 campaign, the DNC has embarked on its most substantial effort ever in a midterm election to turn out long-time and newer African American voters, including reaching out to the community at the doors, on the phone, in the mail, online, through text messaging and over social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. The DNC has an extensive faith outreach effort to African American clergy, which has included conference calls with President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and DNC Chairman Tim Kaine. In addition, the DNC is actively organizing African American small businesses in advance of the election through its Beauty Salon and Barber Shop program.