Did Barack Obama help Doug Jones in Alabama?

[kentuck]

I'm not so sure?

Next to Hillary Clinton, he may be the most disliked politician in the state? His presence or name would only inspire Republicans to vote for whomever he was against. Since there are more Repubs than Democrats, I'm not sure that was a wise move?

Who disagrees?

[babylonsister]

1. Yes, with robocalls. I am glad he

didn't bother going there. He would have gotten grief, I imagine.

[marybourg]

2. It was symbolic. He would have been criticized had he not done it. nt

[JI7]

3. He would help with black voters and they are the ones actually supporting Jones

[BannonsLiver]

4. Depends how they used the robocalls.

If it was micro-targeting to get Dems out to vote that's probably worth the trade off. If it's blanket calls to every voter, that's probably counterproductive.

[GusBob]

5. If the exit poll that shows 30% AA turnout holds true.....

Anything over 25 is a good sign

[gratuitous]

6. Obama held back until the last weekend

I'm inclined to think it was a good move. Certainly Obama was not a popular choice in Alabama (he lost to Romney 61-38 in 2012), but his popularity and likability have inched up since he left office. Obama's involvement was very limited, and was intended to buck up the Democratic workers and volunteers more than to sway undecideds. His late participation and Roy Moore's near-complete absence from the scene in the last week meant there wasn't enough time or direction for Moore's campaign to make a big deal about that man meddling in the political affairs of the Heart of Dixie.

[Egnever]

7. Was just discussing this with my wife last night

I am not so sure either. I love Obama but Alabama decidedly does not.

I hope it helped and understand his wish to try(even applaud it) but I am not at all sure it was helpful.

[meow2u3]

8. I think Charles Barkley also helped Jones

He appealed to the better angels of Alabama voters, suggesting that a vote for Moore is a vote for every negative stereotype about Alabama.

[Hortensis]

9. Yes, I disagree. The types you're talking about vote in

high numbers already, regardless.

But moderate conservatives are different. They may normally dependably turn out in good numbers to vote Republican and dependably oppose electing Democrats, but that does not automatically translate into intense dislike for Obama.

PLUS, this race may well be decided above all by black turnout.

[Gothmog]

10. President Obama's robocalls appears to have helped African American turnout

Robocalls can be targeted and there are reports of high African American turnout

[customerserviceguy]

11. In another thread on this forum

it has been reported that African-American turnout is slightly stronger than it normally has been. However, that could well be that black voters see that they have a chance to make a difference in this election that they couldn't in other elections. I'd need to see figures from predominately white rural areas to see if a counter-reaction to President Obama's support had materialized or not.

I guess we're only a few hours away from the result.

[Blue_true]

12. I agree.

I wanted to see Democrat nationals stay out and let Alabama people handle the race.

[woolldog]

13. Obama is nowhere near the most disliked politician in the state.

There was some polling a week or so ago that stated that Obama is more popular than Trump in Alabama.