Obama Records Radio Ad For LA House Hopeful
Pres-elect Obama may not be on the ballot, but he'll be on the airwaves in LA-04 for the 12/6 general election. "The Fix" reports that Obama has cut a new radio ad for Caddo Parish DA Paul Carmouche (D), who's hoping to win the open Shreveport-based seat and give Dems another pickup this cycle. He'll face physician John Fleming (R) in the neck-and-neck race.
In the ad, Obama said he needs "leaders like Paul Carmouche working with me in Washington." The pres-elect also sent two e-mails to his LA list: one calling for volunteers and another seeking to raise money. "The Fix" also notes that Obama has recorded an automated phone call to voters in the CD.
Obama has also cut a radio ad for Jim Martin (D), who's facing Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) in a runoff today. Earlier this cycle, he also lent his support to Reps. John Barrow (D-GA 12) and Don Cazayoux (D-LA 06), along with IL-10 challenger Dan Seals (D) and CT-04 challenger Jim Himes (D). Barrow and Himes were victorious.
Carmouche may need Obama's vocal support to motivate African-Americans to get to the polls. Statistics show that blacks comprised just 19% of the electorate in the early voting period. In this GOP-leaning CD, African-Americans comprise 31% of the CD's vote, and Carmouche needs a significant bump from that 19% if he's going to take this seat for Dems.
There will be general elections in LA-04 and in Rep. Bill Jefferson's (D-LA 02) New Orleans-centered CD on 12/4. They were delayed because of Hurricane Gustav.
(TIM SAHD)