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GOTV time: Michigan political campaigns shift into "Get Out The Vote" mode

Political campaigns in Michigan are turning their focus to getting out the vote.

In campaign offices across Michigan, a small army of volunteers is busy calling voters just to confirm who they’re voting for.

In the basement of the Michigan Republican Party headquarters, volunteers use telephones which automatically dial the telephone numbers of eligible Michigan voters. 

When someone answers the phone, the volunteer’s first question is “If you are going to vote…are you going to vote for Mitt Romney…or Barack Obama?”

The answer to that question is very important to the campaigns as they switch into GOTV mode, otherwise known as “get out the vote.”

Matt Frendeway is the spokesman for the Michigan Republican Party.  He says the phone bank callers and door knockers help gets Republicans to vote.

“Finding those we know are going to be ‘hard’ Republicans….that are solidly with Mitt Romney and turning them out of the polls,” Frendewey says that’s the focus now.

Democrats says they’re still trying to win over the few undecided voters

But South Lansing team captain James Marshall the focus is also shifting for Democrats to those they know will vote to re-elect the president.

“We have 14 days until election day,” says Marshall, “and we’re going full steam ahead.”

Both sides say voter turnout will be important on election day, not just in the race for president, but also in other political races on the ballot on November 6th

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.