Andy Griffith as Mayberry sheriff endorses Obama for president

A Web video posted online Thursday features iconic North Carolina actor Andy Griffith praising Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Though Griffith has been a mainstay of Democratic campaigns in North Carolina, the video is his first endorsement in a national race and the only one he’s done in character as Mayberry’s Sheriff Taylor.

In the three-minute video, director and former child star Ron Howard transforms himself into Opie from “The Andy Griffith Show” and Richie Cunningham from “Happy Days.” He talks about Obama, first with Griffith in a black-and-white fishing scene reminiscent of the old show and then with Henry Winkler as “The Fonz.”

In the Mayberry segment, “Opie” asks “Sheriff Taylor” why more people aren’t voting for change.

“Well, Ope, people are funny,” Griffith responds. “Sometimes change scares them, and they’d rather keep doing the same ol’ thing that’s been messing them up than change to the thing that can help them.”

Howard, er, Opie, then says he hopes to vote for somebody “as good as Mr. Obama” when he grows up.

Officials with the campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain did not respond to requests to comment.

Griffith, a resident of Manteo, N.C., has made numerous ads for Democratic candidates in North Carolina, including one in the May primary that boosted gubernatorial candidate Beverly Perdue.

But the new Web video was more of high-powered Hollywood production.