The Tomblin campaign Monday launched automated "robocalls" from Manchin to likely voters statewide, Tomblin campaign spokesman Chris Stadelman said.

In the call, Manchin says, "Let me tell you the truth about my friend Earl Ray Tomblin. Earl Ray worked very closely with me to put West Virginia's financial house in order, and he's continued to cut taxes and make the state better for business growth."

Manchin goes on to say that Tomblin is fighting for coal mining jobs, and is continuing the lawsuit challenging federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations, a suit launched in 2010 by the Manchin administration.

"Like me, he stands up for West Virginia jobs," Manchin says, in apparent response to a mailer sent out by Republican challenger Bill Maloney. In that flier, Maloney contends that, unlike Manchin, Tomblin has not stood up for West Virginia against Obama administration policies.

Manchin ends the call by stating, "Earl Ray is the right man at the right time to keep our state moving forward."

Stadelman said the campaign is pleased to have Manchin's support, citing Manchin's high job approval and popularity ratings in recent statewide polls.

"It's clear that Sen. Manchin agrees that Earl Ray Tomblin is the best person to be governor, and we're certainly pleased to have him on our team," Stadelman said.

He said the automated message is going out to persons identified as likely voters statewide.

Stadelman said he anticipates that Manchin will be campaigning for Tomblin during the final two weeks of the race, but said as of Monday, "We have not firmed anything up at this point."

Stadelman noted that Manchin also had come to Tomblin's defense over the weekend, giving media interviews debunking a Maloney attack ad that claims a federal audit found that funds from a stimulus program had been misspent "under Tomblin's watch."

"That's not accurate," Manchin told the Associated Press. "That was under my watch. That wasn't Earl Ray ... Once it was brought to our attention, we moved to correct things immediately."

According to the audit, the misspending of federal weatherization funds occurred in 2009, while Senate President Tomblin did not begin acting as governor until Nov. 15, 2010.

Stadelman said the campaign is not planning a response ad to the attack, noting, "It's so far off-base ... Everyone's saying its garbage."

Calls to Maloney campaign spokeswoman Michelle Yi were not returned Monday.

Also Monday, the Tomblin campaign launched a TV spot touting recent successes in attracting new business investment, including a $150 million distribution center for Macy's, currently under construction in Martinsburg.

The ad features video of the April 15 groundbreaking, and includes comments from company president Peter Longo.

"Macy's could have put this in a lot of places, but acting Gov. Tomblin shook my hand and said, 'Peter, I want you to know West Virginia is open for business.' We had a real deal and the start of a great relationship that day, and I thank you so much for that."

The 30-second spot goes on to cite other business investments announced during the past 10 months, ending with Tomblin stating, "It's just the beginning. There's more work to be done."

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.