“It’s clear: a vote for Joe Manchin is a vote for Barack Obama,” begins the narrator of Republican senate candidate John Raese’s latest TV ad, underscoring the point visually by showing Manchin’s name taped over Barack Obama’s on the ballot.

The ad then cuts to a Manchin soundbite, where he says, “I want Barack Obama to be the best and I believe that I can help.”

“Help?” asks the narrator. “By supporting Obama’s $787 billion dollar stimulus plan that exploded our debt and created few jobs?”

“Helping rubber stamp Obama’s failure doesn’t help anyone, Joe,” concludes the narrator.

The Raese campaign also introduced another spot, “Testimonials,” that includes several people saying statements such as that Manchin should remain governor, and that if goes to Washington, he will support President Obama’s policies.

Raese also picked up an endorsement from South Carolina Republican senator Jim DeMint today.