Obama And McCain Turn To Two Different Robocall Tactics

With the election less than 48 hours away, the Obama and McCain campaigns are trying entirely different tactics vis-à-vis robocalling to advance their political fortunes. The National Political Do Not Contact Registry reports another anti-Obama automated call being made by the McCain campaign, this one tackling the Illinois Democrat for his position on taxes.

"[Obama] wants to take your money and give it to those who don't pay income tax," the call goes. "He even said those who don't want higher taxes are just selfish."

Meanwhile, readers from around the country are reporting receiving robocalls on behalf of the Obama campaign, though not ones attacking McCain on any particular position or policy, but rather to remind voters to go to the polls and even provide them with the location of their voting booths.

Here is one narrated by Michelle Obama.

"This Tuesday is Election Day and I am calling to remind you to get to the polls on Tuesday and vote for Barack Obama," goes the script. "Make your voice heard this year and help make history."

So which one is a more affective use of campaign cash? Shaun Dakins, of The National Political Do Not Contact Registry - who is skittish about all robocalls - says, well, neither.

"The GOVT robos are a waste of time," he told the Huffington Post. "All data show that they do NOT work. Robocalling in general doesn't work because: People don't listen to them, voters hate them, and campaigns don't know how to use them. They tend to spray and pray with little targeting."

Comments

[krabby]

I'm in Ohio, and received six McCain robocalls yesterday alone. We've been averaging five calls a day for the past 10 days or so. We're on the national do-not-call list and receive no telemarketing calls. Apparently there's a separate do not call list for McCain's robocalls? We also got a couple of calls last week from the Ohio right to life people basically calling Obama an abortionist. This strategy does not work in any way. Now its bad enough that I have to live with repugs around me, but now they're invading my phones!

[piper1233]

The only positive use of robocalls is to remind people to vote, both Candidates should pay for a joint calls with both of their voices on it asking people to exercise their voting rights. Anything else is just annoying.

[TopDog]

F%&* Robocalls.

[partyofone]

Robo calls should be banned. There is no legitimate use for them by McCain or Obama.

[grf67]

McCain has nothing of value to offer the country so he has fallen to nasty robocalls. If he was smart enough to have ideas, this would not be necessary.

[XME]

I live in VA and have received the Michelle robocall. I also received one (also from Obama) making sure we know that Dems vote on the 4th, NOT the 5th as was stated in some flyers that were circulated here.

[nowalnuts]

I had no idea how insane the robocalling was until I was in Wisconsin this weekend. In Chicago with just a cell I get nothing but my mother got 3 creepy McCain calls in one day! Two of the McCain calls came one right after the other at 8:55 and 8:58pm. She also got the Palin voice call the next day. She also had 2 Obama campaign calls from real people telling her where to vote in the same two days. I feel so bad for people having to deal with these insane amounts of calls. My mother didn't mind the Obama calls because the people she spoke to were nice and not robots.. Being someone who makes those calls I haven't talked to anyone who was upset with getting the call but I didn't know that people were being called soooooo many times. That would really annoy me if it was my phone ringing off the hook.

[CTtransplant]

We got 4 robo calls from the McCain Campaign just yesterday alone - in a three hour period! And one today so far! Yet we are on the Political Do Not Call Registry..­.apparentl­y they do not check it before they call!

Oh...and not ONE of the McCain calls were about what his policies are....we hung up before the first sentence was finished - and by the last call, we hung up as soon as we heard 'McCain'...guess who we voted for?

Obama/Biden '08!!!!!

[HypocrisyAlarm]

Please, don't hang up on the McCain calls. If you stay on the line (you don't have to listen), you can tie up a telephone line for the duration of the call. If you hang up, the line comes free again. The more people who reject McCain's message but keep the telephone line engaged, the fewer people who are vulnerable to such tactics his campaign can reach. Conversely, disengaging the line when Obama calls (if you don't need the information) frees resources to reach those who DO need the info.

[TopDog]

I question the validity of a digital line being tied up. It probably does not matter if you hang up or not as to how many calls are place. That is my guess.

[Twinkie]

LOL, well apart from DanniD who ever listens to these anyway, from either side. I would just hang up immediately.

[DanniD]

I got one on my voicemail today and I absolutely LOVED it!!!!! It was from Obama...it was HIS voice!!! It was positive, encouraging me to go vote!! I didn't need encouraging but I was thrilled as all get out to hear..."Hello, this is Barack Obama..."

Yes, I screamed!! *blushing*

[S1m0n]

I can see a place for robocalls in exactly this role: helping first-time voters understand what they need to do, particularly if there is, as there appears to be, a contrary misinformation campaign to counter-act.

[Daw8it]

GET OUT THE VOTE!!!
12 million already sent , going for 15 MILLION by election day !!!!

Moveon .org has sent up a video you can email to your friends to see what happens if he/she didn't vote ,
you can add there name to the video - very cool and scary. a must see.

Go to http://moveon.org/ and click on "Make sure all your friends vote" or you can just go here http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/taf.shtml

[jozap]

After receiving several attack type robocalls a day, from Rep side, for what seems like weeks.

I have received two calls, from live people, for Obama. One asked if I wanted an early mail in ballot. The second asked if I planned on votiing, diid I know where my polling place was and did I need any help getting to the poll.

Guess who I'm voting for??? I live in Az. Go Obama 08

[Plank]

That's the difference between a pro and an amateur.

[mulishmissourian]

I actually got what I considered to be a POSITIVE robocall from a candidate running for the U.S. House. He used it to invite voters (Democrats, Republicans, and Independents) to meet him in person at our local library branch to discuss what we want from our representative. If I hadn't been working that evening, I would most likely have attended.

Our current representative also used a robocall that I didn't find offensive, but rather puzzling. He invited voters to join in a town-hall on the phone. What does that mean? I contacted his campaign and gave them my e-mail address, but have heard nothing. Don't think I want to continue this kind of representation!!