AFP

WASHINGTON AS Americans head home for the holidays this week, President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign is dishing up tips on how to convince skeptical relatives around the family table to vote for him.

“Approaching friends and family about who they’re voting for can be intimidating — especially if you’ve never talked about politics with them before,” the campaign said, releasing a “Home for the Holidays” how-to video.

The campaign website also highlighted issues where Obama helped “move our country forward,” such as keeping his campaign pledge to end the Iraq war and repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on gays serving openly in the military.

“My grandmother has spent so long saying ‘Oh, Barack Obama,’” one woman says in the video, pointing at a family photograph and mimicking her 90-year-old grandmother. For about 70- plus years, she’s been voting Republican and recently, she said, ‘I think I’m going to vote for Barack Obama.’” The approach signals a growing focus on winning over crucial independents and swing voters, who could tip the balance in the November 2012 elections for the Democrat Obama against his Republican rivals.

“Whether you’re heading out of town or crashing at your parents’ house, this holiday season is the perfect chance to talk to your friends and family about why you’re working to re-elect President Obama,” the campaign video released Wednesday says, urging supporters to share stories on what inspired them to back the president.

The video features a collage of young voters from different backgrounds who helped elect the nation’s first African-American president in 2008 and have since helped convince conservative relatives to support Obama.

Among parents featured in the video are a father who voted twice for George W Bush and another who is described as “stubborn and stuck in his ways.” To win over these older folks, the Obama campaign suggests other options as well as heated debates around the holiday dinner table, such as using email, text messaging, Skype and Facebook.