Obama asks 2008 coalition to help in 2010

[April 26, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is making an appeal to the swarm of new voters who ushered him into office in 2008.

He says in a new video message to backers: help elect Democrats in this fall's midterm elections.

Democrats face a tough political environment, and even the most senior party officials don't expect that the coalition of voters who backed Obama will turn out in droves when he's not on the ballot.

Obama says Democrats are making change and moving America forward, but Republicans would undo everything the party has accomplished if the GOP retakes Congress. The message is part of a larger strategy by the party to re-engage young people, blacks, Hispanics, women and independent voters who propelled Obama to the White House.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.