[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/27/art.spalin.gi.1027.jpg caption="Palin recorded an automated phone call for Virginia voters."]Story updated at 11:00 a.m. EST to correct transcript of robocall
RICHMOND, Virginia (CNN) - Sarah Palin isn’t staying out of the Virginia governor’s race after all.
Less than 48 hours before voters head to the polls to elect a new governor, several Virginians reported receiving robocalls on Sunday from the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, urging them to “vote your values” on Tuesday.
But the recording makes no mention of the Bob McDonnell, the Republican gubernatorial candidate who has been reluctant to embrace Palin during the governor’s race, out of fear that she might alienate some of the independent voters who have helped him climb to a healthy lead in the polls over Democrat Creigh Deeds.
“Virginia, hello, this is Sarah Palin calling to urge you to go to the polls Tuesday and vote to share our principles,” the former Alaska governor says in the call, which was provided to CNN by one Democrat who recorded it. “The eyes of America will be on Virginia and make no mistake about it, every vote counts. So don’t take anything for granted, vote your values on Tuesday, and urge your friends and family to vote, too.”
Meg Stapleton, a spokeswoman for Palin, confirmed the authenticity of the calls.
According to the call, the phone blitz is being paid for by the Virginia Faith and Freedom Coalition, the state branch of a national conservative group founded by former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed.
McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin said the campaign had nothing to do with the phone blitz and was not aware of the robocalls until he was told about them by a reporter.
Last October, during her vice presidential bid, Palin told reporters that voters get “irritated” by the automated calls being used at the time by both presidential campaigns, calling the tactic part of the “old conventional ways of campaigning.”
CORRECTION: The Faith and Freedom Coalition passes on cleaner audio of the call, which makes clear that Palin tells listeners to "vote to share our principles," not vote "for Sarah's principles" as had been earlier reported.
why won't she just go away!?
LOL @ Sarah's principles...Isnt she still married to that America hater?
CNN please take note...nobody cares!!! Let this person disappear in obscurity and STOP reporting on her!
Interesting thought she thought being a governor was too hard. Betcha McConnell is ticked especially since he didn't ask her to do this. Palin it is possible that this just helped Deeds.
Hopefully, the Virginians are smarter than Sarah give them credit. She said to vote for her principles. What are her principles? As far as I can remember, she had absolutely nothing.
Looking forward to a time when she will be just a footnote in a history book, in the chapter titled "dumbest moments in American Politics"
Sarah's PRINCIPALS? She wants Virginia voters to quit their jobs, hide behind a facebook account, and take checks from Rupert Murdoch?
This will be hilarious if it backfires for the Alaskan princess.
God Bless You Sarah
You let this woman actually think she had a chance- now she's on a power hungry tour. Please someone- send her ass back to Alaska. I hear they have a bridge for the troll!!
I am not really sure about any of yours values Mrs. Sarah. Nevertheless, I would ask Levi Johnston for help.
He is a very beautiful and nice person, and he would help many of us to learn more about your values.
Vote for "Sarah's principles"? Did I get this right? She asking people not to vote for what's right for them and their family, but what's right for her political agenda. Another monumentally stupid Palinism.
CNN,
No other media headlines Palin as you do.
Did you ever consider this as part of the reasons your ratings
have hit rock bottom??
Its tough walking that fine line huh? If you are embarrased to say who is endorsing you, decline them.
Palin–It's like watching a great train wreck. I kinda' feel bad for Bob McDonnell.
idiot! nough said
For Democrats, Palin is the gift from John McCain that just keeps on giving! Go Sarah Go!
Sarah's Values?
To be a quitter?
Do as I say, not as I do?
Unwed teen parents?
Death Squads?
She has no redeemable values.
As much as I may fundamentally agree with Palin, her image is tarnished and her political status is "done"... good luck with her book
What are "Sarah's principles?" She claims to be part of the new fresh face of politics but then engages in tactics she says are old, conventional and irritating to voters. Are the new principles in politics get rich at the expense of the people before they notice how inept you are? I thought that was part of the more conventional approach to politics.
So, we can re-add "hypocrite" to the term "quitter" when describing Sarah Palin.
I love the long standing conservative tradition of naming something the opposite of what it is: "Virginia Faith and Freedom Coalition"? Seems to me most conservative "faith" movements are all about removing your "freedoms" so they can tell you how to act, who to be friends with, who is allowed to marry, what lifestyle to lead, what life choices to make, what religion you need to be, who you need to vote for, what TV and movies you can watch, what books you can read, what you should think on issues affecting the freedoms of others......
Would those values be...to be undereducated even though you went to five different colleges? When caught lying blame the "gotcha, left-wing media" instead of owning up to the truth? Quitting your elected post when the going gets tough because you can make a bunch of money on the road doing appearances? Yeah Virginia, you should really listen to Palin, cause she's got some really great "values."
It is starting to look like a sweep for Republicans and Conservatives and a mandate against Obama and his radical left- wing policies. So I guess it is time for CNN to make up a story about Palin, so their, and Obama's, hate-filled followers can spew false lies to try to distract attention from another of Obama's failings.
Wow, she just can't help but push herself into the spotlight, even when she is clearly not wanted.
Virginia is leaning toward the Republican, but this is the best pro-Democratic candidate GOTV action that the Dems could have.
I hope the robocalls backfire on the GOP. Who does this woman think she is? She is NOT invited to support the GOP candidate for fear of her alienating people, yet she sticks her nose into the race and makes these calls? Besides, looking at everything we now know about her, what exactly are her "values?" And by the way, is she running for something in Virginia?
This woman evidently knows more about what it is to be a 'real' Virginian than I do even though I was born here and have lived here for 24 of my 32 years. I'm really not a fan of shooting defenseless widelife from helicopters, and I don't believe that a bunch of Judeo Fascists should be running our state government either.