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Obama Records Robocall for Doug Jones Ahead of Alabama Election

Former President Barack Obama has stepped back into the political ring, voicing his support for Alabama Democratic Senate candidate Doug Jones in a pre-recorded phone message just before Tuesday's special election.

Two Democratic officials familiar with the Alabama race told CNN that Obama recorded the message in recent days, as President Donald Trump recorded his own phone call in support of Jones' opponent, Republican Roy Moore.

"This one's serious," Obama says in the call. "You can't sit it out."

"Doug Jones is a fighter for equality, for progress," he adds. "Doug will be our champion for justice. So get out and vote, Alabama."

Obama does not mention Moore by name.

The robocall is meant to specifically reach black voters, whose turnout is critical for Jones, a 63-year-old former U.S. attorney.

Obama's message comes less than a year after he left the White House, and weeks after he campaigned for Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey, both of whom won their races last month.

Obama was not the only high-profile Democrat to record a robocall for Jones just before the election. His former vice president, Joe Biden, also recorded a call for Jones, according to Politico.

Trump's robocall for Moore, a 70-year-old former judge, was scheduled to go out on Monday and comes after he forcefully called on Alabama voters to vote for the candidate.

"The future of this country cannot afford to lose a seat in the very, very close United States Senate," Trump said at a Florida rally last week. "We can't afford it, folks. We can't. We can't afford to have a liberal Democrat who is completely controlled by Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. We can't."

The Alabama special election has drawn national attention, particularly after Moore was accused of molesting underage girls.

The Washington Post reported last month that Moore initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was 32 years old. Three other women in the article accused him of pursuing relationships with them when they were between the ages of 16 and 18 and he was in his 30s. Since then, additional women have accused Moore of sexual misconduct or assault.

Moore has denied the allegations and painted them as politically motivated.

Over the weekend, Democratic Sen. and possible 2020 presidential candidate Cory Booker (N.J.) rallied with Jones in Alabama in an effort to boost African-American voter turnout. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D.) also campaigned for Jones.