President Barack Obama has sent an e-mail to hundreds of thousands of Virginians urging them to get involved in the campaign for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Creigh Deeds.

The message went out today to the Organizing for America and Democratic National Committee email lists in Virginia, which a spokesman says combined number in the hundreds of thousands. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine chairs the DNC and is a close personal friend to Obama.

“I know a thing or two about tough primaries, and I know a thing or two about running tough races in Virginia,“ Obama writes. “Creigh Deeds’ victory once again shows the power of people at the grassroots to win elections and bring about lasting change—and he will be a better candidate this fall because of his hard work to win the nomination.“

Deeds on June 9 beat out former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe and former Del. Brian J. Moran for the party’s nomination. He now faces Republican former attorney general Bob McDonnell in the general election. 

“In my experience, Democratic candidates with a pragmatic approach to solving problems can be successful,“ Obama writes. “That’s the approach my campaign took last November to put Virginia in the Democratic column for the first time since 1964. And that’s how Creigh Deeds will win this fall.“

On Wednesday, Obama called Deeds “to congratulate him on running a terrific campaign and winning a hard-fought race,“ according to Deeds’ camp.

“He told Deeds that he is committed to helping him win this November to bring about the economic recovery that the people of Virginia demand and deserve. Both President Obama and Vice President Biden have pledged to campaign for Deeds in the Commonwealth,“ the Deeds campaign said.

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