HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie launched a radio ad Wednesday featuring President Barack Obama supporting the governor’s bid for re-election.

In the ad, Obama uses the Hawaiian word for family, saying Abercrombie is “like ohana to me.” The president says Abercrombie knew his parents “before I was a twinkle in their eye.”

Obama says the governor has made gutsy decisions leading Hawaii, tackled a budget crisis, made smart investments in education and fought for middle class and working families.

Abercrombie’s campaign paid for the ad. The governor was one of the first to support Obama when he ran for president, and Obama endorsed Abercrombie in December.

State Sen. David Ige, who is challenging Abercrombie in the Democratic primary, said in an email that he never had the opportunity to meet Obama, but “since he was once a community organizer, I’m sure he would relate to and appreciate the grassroots organization of my campaign and my 29 years of public service.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.