President Obama, in his latest bid to rally public support in the debt-ceiling battle with Republicans, has taken to Twitter.
Members of the president’s re-election staff have spent the morning publishing the Twitter handles of GOP lawmakers in various states, urging constituents to ask them to “support a bipartisan solution to the deficit crisis” as House Republican leaders plan a vote later Friday on a measure Democrats strongly oppose.
“The time for putting party first is over. If you want to see a bipartisan #compromise, let Congress know. Call. Email. Tweet. —BO,” Mr. Obama tweeted from his @BarackObama account.
Campaign staffers then started posting the names of representatives from Alaska, Arkansas and Alabama.
“AK Republican rep on Twitter: @donyoung,” read one tweet.
“Arkansas voters: Tweet @JohnBoozman and ask him to compromise on a balanced deficit solution,” another implored.
“If you live in Arizona, ask @SenJonKyl and @SenJohnMcCain to support a bipartisan compromise to the debt crisis,” yet another added.
The Twitter offensive is the latest push by Mr. Obama to influence the debate after House Speaker John A. Boehner cut him out of direct negotiations one week ago. In a Monday night primetime address and again on Friday, the president urged Americans to flood Congress with phone calls in support of a bipartisan deal.
Mr. Obama has more than 9.4 million followers on Twitter.
