Obama Tapes Robo-Call for Coakley in MA

From John Berman and Sunlen Miller:

With just days to go in a race that was supposed to be easy, Democrats are scrambling to fire all their big guns in Massachusetts to save the Senate seat held by Ted Kennedy for 46 years: including a TV ad from Vicki Kennedy, a campaign rally with former President with Bill Clinton

In the latest sign the margins in this race may be razor-thin, President Obama has taped a robo-call going out to Massachusetts voters today, funded by the Democratic National Committee.

“I rarely make these,” he says in his pitch for Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley,  “But I had to talk to you about the election in Massachusetts on Tuesday because the stakes are so high.”

The President acknowledged the fate of much his signature legislation, including health care “will probably rest on one vote in the United States Senate.”

Republican Scott Brown has promised to be the 41st Republican vote, which could effectively block the health care bill being hammered-out behind closed-doors at the White House late this week. 

The last minute push by the president, in the lead up to Tuesday’s election for the U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts follows a video message recorded on her behalf yesterday. Heading into the final weekend the race is neck-and-neck between Coakley and Republican state Senator Scott Brown.

Democrats enjoy a 3-1 advantage over Republicans in Massachusetts, which is why the President Obama is trying to wake up the Democratic base, “a lot of people don’t even realize there is an election on Tuesday to fill the unexpired term of Ted Kennedy. They don’t realize why it’s so important.”

Here is the full script of the President’s call:

“Hi, this is President Barack Obama. I rarely make these calls and I truly apologize for intruding on your day. But I had to talk to you about the election in Massachusetts on Tuesday because the stakes are so high.

In Washington, I’m fighting to curb the abuses of a health insurance industry that routinely denies care. I’m fighting for financial reforms to stop Wall Street from playing havoc with our economy. I’m fighting to create a new clean energy economy and it’s clear now that the outcome of these and other fights will probably rest on one vote in the United States Senate.

We know where Martha Coakley stands. As your attorney general, Martha has taken on Wall Street’s schemes, insurance company abuses and big polluters on your behalf. She represents the best progressive values of Massachusetts. She‘ll be your voice and my ally.

But a lot of people don’t even realize there is an election on Tuesday to fill the unexpired term of Ted Kennedy. They don’t realize why it’s so important. So please, come out to vote for Martha Coakley. And make sure everyone you know understands the stakes for their families, Massachusetts and our country.”

-John Berman and Sunlen Miller