In a unique way to rally support for Barack Obama, the actor-turned-director Ron Howard reprises his role on “The Andy Griffith Show,” in a video posted Thursday on Funnyordie.com.

The Web video features iconic North Carolina actor Andy Griffith praising Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Griffith, a resident of Manteo, N.C., has made numerous ads for Democratic candidates, but the video is his first endorsement in a national race, and the only one he has done in character as Mayberry’s Sheriff Taylor.

The three-minute video has Howard transform himself into Opie from the Griffith Show, and Richie Cunningham from ‘Happy Days.’ Talking about Obama, Howard first is with Griffith in a black-and-white fishing scene reminiscent of the old show, and then with Henry Winkler as ‘The Fonz.’

While speaking into the camera, Howard has his beard shaved and, donning a youthful red wig, is attired in the kind of outfit he would have only worn as Opie Taylor in 1960s.

In the Mayberry segment, the question that “Opie” puts to “Sheriff Taylor” is why more people are not voting for change. To this, 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, as Opie, then says he hopes to vote for somebody “as good as Mr. Obama” when he grows up.

In his reaction to the video, Howard himself said: “I’ve never done this before and I hope never to do it again, but I guess you could say I’m feeling pretty desperate these days. So as a demonstration of my sincerity, this is for you America.”