Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made a long-awaited entry into the Virginia governor’s race via an automated call to as many as 350,000 state residents urging them to vote.

The calls are among about 600,000 coordinated through the Virginia Faith and Freedom Coalition, said state Sen. Stephen H. Martin, R-Chesterfield, chairman of the coalition. It is an affiliate of a national group organized by Ralph Reed, former executive director of the Christian Coalition.

Martin said the coalition does not endorse candidates or parties. He said Palin, the GOP’s 2008 vice-presidential nominee, talks about “shared principles” in her call.

A spokesman for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell said: “It’s not our call.“