Facing strong political headwinds and possible widespread losses in midterm elections, the Democratic Party is trying to reassemble President Obama’s “Hope and Change” coalition of minority, female and young voters that carried him to victory in 2008 and 2012.
The Democratic National Committee began a national ad campaign Tuesday to rekindle the spirit of these crucial blocs, starting with a radio ad in which Mr. Obama appeals to black voters to turn out at the polls.
“No Democratic president in U.S. history has faced the level of obstruction from the Republicans that Barack Obama has. It’s critical that we continue to fight for change and vote on Nov. 4,” a female announcer says in the spot, which is airing nationwide on radio stations that cater to blacks.
It’s part of a seven-figure campaign of print, radio and TV ads targeting blacks, Hispanics, women and young voters, the DNC said.
The radio ad features a recording of Mr. Obama delivering a rousing speech before an enthusiastic crowd.
“I’ve got a vision of an economy where opportunity is open to everybody who’s willing to work hard,” the president says, his voice rising.
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“I want an economy where new, long-term investments in American infrastructure and American manufacturing are unleashing new jobs in new industries; an economy where our workers have the chance to earn new skills that lead to that good job; I want an economy where your hard work pays off with higher wages, and higher incomes, and affordable health insurance, and decent retirement benefits,” he shouts.
The announcer drives home the message: “President Obama will fight for us, but he can’t do it alone. We have a responsibility to stand up for our community and vote Nov. 4.”
Blacks remain the only group in which the president’s oratory is still likely to resonate. His unpopularity threatens to sap support for Democrats across the country, and Senate Democrats are at risk of losing majority control of the upper chamber.
Mr. Obama’s low ratings have forced him to steer clear of states with close U.S. Senate races, including where the Democratic Party and its allies are working feverishly to boost minority turnout in hopes of saving endangered incumbents such as Sens. Kay R. Hagan in North Carolina and Mary L. Landrieu in Louisiana.
Excluding blacks, the president’s approval has dropped among all key Democratic voter blocs, an ABC News/Washington Post poll showed last week.
Women disapproved of the president by 50 percent to 44 percent. Hispanic support fell to 57 percent from a high of 75 percent just last year. Support among voters ages 18 to 29 fell 11 points since June to 43 percent, according to the poll.
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Mr. Obama’s overall approval rating stood at 41 percent Tuesday in the Gallup daily tracking poll.
DNC officials refused to say whether Mr. Obama would appear elsewhere in the ad campaign.
“This strategic national ad buy will engage key members of the coalition that elected President Obama twice and remind them what’s at stake in this midterm election,” said DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “It’s no secret that Democrats’ challenge is expanding the vote this November and before with early voting, so these ads are geared toward many constituencies that have typically dropped off in midterm elections.”
She said the ads will highlight issues that motivate the targeted groups to go to the polls.
“From equal pay to affordable health care to immigration, the stakes in this election could not be higher, and we look forward to communicating that contrast over the coming weeks,” said Ms. Wasserman Schultz, who represents Florida in Congress.
Republicans responded to the DNC’s ad campaign by citing inroads they have made with black and Hispanic voters throughout the election cycle, including a radio and print campaign during Black History Month and Spanish-language TV ads in key states.
“Glad to hear the Democrats are finally getting around to spending money to reach black voters, but running last-minute radio ads won’t reverse the harm the administration’s policies have done to black Americans,” said Orlando Watson, the Republican National Committee’s communications director for black media.
“Last-minute radio ads won’t keep more money in the pocket of the black wage earner, or allow a parent to send their child to the school they choose, or help the black teenager who faces a staggering unemployment rate. It’s Republican policies that are focused on creating jobs now and increasing access to a quality education that will improve the lives of millions of Americans, including black Americans,” Mr. Watson said.
Republicans continue to lag in support among all the groups targeted by the DNC.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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