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Obama Uses Bi-Lingual Robocall To Target Hispanic Voters
It is a telling contrast, how differently the McCain and Obama campaigns have used robocalling to advance their political interests.
While the former has turned to automated calls to raise concerns on everything from gun control and crime prevention to Bill Ayers and Obama's willingness to give "terrorists traditional civil rights," the later has tapped the technology to, primarily, get people to vote.
On Thursday, Obama's Nevada office announced that it would launch a bi-lingual (Spanish and English) robocall campaign aimed at getting Latino voters to the polls.
"I'm calling because I wanted to let you know that you can vote early any day from now until October 31st at an early vote site in your county," the script goes. "Some voters have received incorrect phone calls offering to help vote over the phone. Voting over the phone is not possible! For more information, call 1-877-OBAMA-NV."
That same day, in Virginia, individuals were wooed with the voice of Michelle Obama urging them to take advantage of the early voting period.
Robocalls are relatively cheap but not very effective in changing the minds of voters. As such, there is marginal utility in using the technology to launch political attacks. As a get-out-the-vote tool, however, it falls under the category of leaving no stone unturned -- and the Democratic candidate has been very diligent on this front. In addition to the automated call, the Obama camp has been blasting text messages out to its supporters, urging them to vote.
(Hat tip: Las Vegas Sun)
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October 24, 2008 08:48 AM