Over the last week or so I would estimate that my wife and I have received somewhere in the vicinity of 200 robocalls. Since my wife votes in the Republican primaries and I vote in the Democratic primaries we probably constitute a worst-case scenario, i.e. she’s a likely Republican voter and I’m a likely Democratic voter so we get calls from practically everybody.
A lot of the calls we received were from the Romney campaign or on behalf of Romney. Some were from Santorum. We received a lot of calls from various judicial candidates and a few from local politicians seeking re-election.
Why?
There are scads of studies that show that robocalls don’t work and I know of no independent studies that have found that they do work. Yale’s Green and Gerber have found that robocalls are not effective methods of mobilization and Green is quoted as having said that robocalls have a perfect record of not working. I’d appreciate knowing of any independent studies that have found them effective.
Personalized contact works. Direct contact from real live people who are articulate and prepared can work. As we saw in the 2008 campaign social media can work. Robocalls don’t work.
Why do candidates and campaigns persist in using them? Here are my guesses:
- They’re advertised heavily and enthusiastically by companies marketing products and services to enable campaigns to perform robocalls.
- They’re cheaper than television or radio spots.
- They don’t believe that direct mail works.
- They don’t have the money or ability to organize grassroots campaigns.
- Robocalls enable candidates to give the appearance of grassroots support without any.
- They probably don’t know what else to do.
I don’t know about other people but I just hang up on robocalls. As far as I’m concerned they’re nuisances plain and simple.
If they have any power at all it’s to discourage me from voting for a candidate who uses them. Maybe that’s the plan. Maybe Santorum or organizations supporting him bombarded likely voters with robocalls in support of Romney hoping that would make us angry enough at him that we’d vote for Santorum. If that was the plan, it didn’t work. Romney took Illinois anyway (not with any help from me).
We were bombarded by David Vitter in the last senatorial race, asking “humbly” for our votes. You’ll remember, the “family values” man with the affinity for specialized call girls?
All I could think of was Uriah Heep.
Haven’t had many robocalls since giving up a landline phone. I sure don’t miss them.
“Well, it looks like we don’t have enough money for t.v., radio . . . not even for mailings, what can we afford?”
“A sharp blow to the head; very affordable.”
“A sharp blow to the head? Does that really work?”
“You see, we hire roustabouts to hang-out near precincts and when someone approaches they administer a sharp blow to the head. Its supposed to increase the odds they will vote for the underdog.”
“Sounds interesting, but is there anything still cheaper?”
“Robocalls, not as effective as a sharp blow to the head, but inexpensive.”
Pretty much the way I’ve got it figured, PD.
Unfortunately, Congress wouldn’t include robocalling as part of the ‘Do Not Call’ registry, thus protecting their privilege to bug the Hell out of you – like their disgusting franked mail privileges. I delete them after the first few words that tell me that it’s a robocall. My gut tells me it’s a complete waste of money.
The calls with the drawly woman’s voice are from the Red, White and Blue Fund PAC supporting Santorum.
A letter to the editor in my local newspaper today was from a self-described bleeding heart liberal, who claims that she received a pro-Santorum PAC robocall which complained about gays and lesbians in the workplace, schools, etc.
Miss the target much?
It’s been surpisingly quiet. The belle of the Red, White and Blue Fund has been back again, along with a survey call asking if we’ll support Santorum, and one supporter of Ron Paul. Seven calls altogether, five for Santorum.