FRANKFORT, Ky. — Just how important are the four special state House elections? Well, it’s apparently important enough for the president of the United States to get involved.

President Barack Obama recorded a phone message to voters in the 8th House District in Christian and Trigg counties on behalf of Democratic and African American candidate Jeffrey Taylor of Hopkinsville who is running against Republican Walker Wood Thomas.

The Kentucky House is the last legislative chamber in the south controlled by Democrats who are holding on to a slim 50-46 margin.

But a Republican sweep Tuesday would produce a 50-50 tie with November’s elections likely to swing the chamber to the GOP.

And while Obama isn’t popular in Kentucky generally, he is popular in African American communities.

Obama’s call went out Monday, primarily to African American precincts, telling voters Taylor will protect theirCORR health insurance and fight to make college affordable.

“Hi, this is Barack Obama,” the president begins in the 35-second recorded call. “I’m calling to ask you to get out and vote for Jeff Taylor for state representative in the special election tomorrow (Tuesday).

“This election couldn’t be more important,” President Obama continues. “More than 8,000 Kentuckians have gained access to health care through kynect. Jeff Taylor will protect your health insurance, not take it away.

“He’ll fight to make college more affordable and is against the proposal to cut higher education and make it more expensive,” Obama says, echoing House Democrats’ complaints about Republican Gov. Matt Bevin’s plans to dismantle the state health exchange and cut funding to higher education.”

“The choice you make tomorrow will make the difference,” Obama says. “But the polls are only open until 6 p.m. So get out and vote for health care, for education and for Kentucky families by voting for Jeff Taylor.”

On Tuesday, House Speaker Pro Tem Jody Richards said he’d been told turnout was higher than expected in the district, especially in precincts with large numbers of African American voters.

Christian County Clerk Mike Kem said Tuesday afternoon turnout district-wide was running a bit higher than he expected.

Asked if that were especially true of precincts with larger numbers of African American voters, he said, “Yeah, it is a little.”

But Kem, a Democrat, was unaware of Obama’s recorded call until asked about it by a reporter.

Kem said he thinks the “race is pretty close.”

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.