Iowa caucus

Mystery Robocall Attacks Santorum As 'Pro-Life Fraud' In Iowa

Eric Kleefeld | March 9, 2010, 1:14PM

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), a potential presidential candidate, is already being "greeted" on his visit to Iowa today -- by some nasty robocalls impugning his conservative bonafides. However, it is not known who is actually behind the calls.

The 40-second robocall, reported by CNN, hammers Santorum as "a pro-life fraud." Although Santorum was known for his strong social conservative agenda during his two terms in the Senate, the call attacks him for campaigning in 1997 on behalf of New Jersey's pro-choice Republican Gov. Christie Whitman -- and for Sen. Arlen Specter in 2004, back when he was still a Republican and was facing a tough primary challenge from conservative Rep. Pat Toomey.

Read more »

MA-SEN

Obama Records Robocall For Coakley (AUDIO)

Eric Kleefeld | January 15, 2010, 12:03PM

Sen. Candidate Martha Coakley (D-MA) and President Obama

President Obama has recorded a robocall for Democratic candidate Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts special Senate election, imploring recipients to get and out for Coakley, and make sure everyone else will know there's an election, too.

"We know where Martha Coakley stands," Obama says. "As your attorney general, Martha has taken on Wall Street's schemes, insurance company abuses and big polluters on your behalf. She represents the best progressive values of Massachusetts. She'll be your voice and my ally."

"But a lot of people don't even realize there is an election on Tuesday to fill the unexpired term of Ted Kennedy. They don't realize why it's so important. So please, come out to vote for Martha Coakley. And make sure everyone you know understands the stakes for their families, Massachusetts and our country."

Read more »

Abortion

Family Research Council Doing Calls On Health Care, Malaria And 'Taxpayer Funded' Abortion

Christina Bellantoni | December 10, 2009, 4:01PM

The Family Research Council is doing a robo-call on health care reform suggesting the bill includes taxpayer funded abortions but also asking about malaria.

TPM readers have flagged a handful of calls coming in the last few days.

Reader WK of Northern Virginia said the call was an ABBC survey sponsored by the Family Research Council and reader PC in South Dakota said it was from UMBI.

FRC spokesman JP Duffy told TPMDC the calls are part of a "very expensive campaign."

He said they are going into every home in Arkansas, Louisiana and South Dakota, and to pro-life households in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Read more »