President Obama’s asked supporters in the Washington, D.C., area if they’d “got a spare couch or a bed”  for an army of volunteers coming from out of town to campaign in Northern Virginia.

“Some great folks we know are looking for a friendly place to stay,”  wrote Lisa Clavel, the Obama campaign’s Virginia State Director. “A group of the most dedicated organizers and volunteers will be coming to Northern Virginia for the remaining weeks of the campaign. They heard we’re looking to run a fierce ground game for President Obama this fall — and they want to be a part of it. But here’s the thing: They need somewhere to stay. And I’m hoping you can lend them a hand with that.”

Clavel promised that the out-of-towners would be low-maintenance guests, because they’ll use public transportation and work during the day.

In return for housing, “I bet they’ll come back at night with some amazing stories about the people they’ve reached and the energy they’re sparking — stories that you otherwise might not get to hear,” Clavel added.

The Obama campaign’s hope of holding Virginia lies in the northern part of the state, which has leaned liberal as government workers have moved into the area in recent years.

It seems likely that the campaign will rely on out-of-town volunteers in other battleground states, as well given previous statements by the campaign.

“[I]f things look good where you are, things are feeling just so great for Barack Obama where you’re living, then pack a bag,” First Lady Michelle Obama said during a Women for Obama fundraiser in Chicago this June. “And spend some time in a battleground state like Iowa,” she added, saying  “that’s where we need you to talk to those undecided voters.”