Mississippi Democrat deploys last-minute Obama robocall in gubernatorial election

Mississippi Democrat and gubernatorial candidate Jim Hood on Monday deployed last-minute robocalls with former President Obama’s endorsement the day before the state’s election. 

Obama reportedly recorded a robocall for Hood’s campaign. Hood’s recruitment of Obama strays from his previous strategy of avoiding national endorsements, Mississippi Today reported.

{mosads}Katie Hill, communications director for Obama’s office, confirmed to The Hill that Obama recorded the call.

The former president’s message on the Democratic candidate included support for Hood’s main campaign issues — enhancing health care, education and infrastructure. The call ended with a message saying it was “paid for by friends of Jim Hood.”

“Jim Hood will expand Medicaid to cover 300,000 more people and fight to keep Mississippi’s rural hospitals open — to raise teacher pay, and build an administration as diverse as Mississippi,” Obama reportedly said in the call.

The Hill reached out to Obama’s press office and the Hood campaign for comment.

Conservatives like Gov. Phil Bryant (R) criticized the Democratic candidate for the Obama robocall, saying it showed “what he really believes.”

At the 11th hour Jim Hood had Barack Obama endorse him for Governor of Mississippi. Now we finally know what he really believes. Vote Republican tomorrow and end this once and for all. @MSGOP #MAGA. https://t.co/v4hll4qqSH

— Phil Bryant (@PhilBryantMS) November 5, 2019

Hood faces Republican opponent Tate Reeves, the lieutenant governor, in the Tuesday election in one of several key races across the country.

Obama also did a robocall for Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who is running in the gubernatorial race in Louisiana.