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Huck Robo Pollers Hit 5 Million Homes
Yesterday we gave you the rundown on Common Sense Issues, a nonprofit group that's been phoning millions of voters in key primary states on behalf of Mike Huckabee. The automated calls ask voters about their views on certain hot-button conservative issues and then provide a barrage of facts demonstrating that Huckabee is stronger.
I spoke with the group's executive director Patrick Davis this morning and asked him to lay it all out for me. Where was the group active? How many calls had they made? And were the calls illegal?
In addition to the approximately 850,000 calls in Iowa and 1 million in South Carolina, the group made 800,000 in New Hampshire, and already hundreds of thousands in Florida (he said it wasn't up to a million "yet"). They're on the phones currently in Michigan, he said, and have reached on the order of two million homes. All the calls are generally identical, he said, with some exceptions.
For instance, the group is calling independent and Democratic homes in Michigan, encouraging them to cross over and vote for Huckabee in the Republican primary because "they don't have much of a choice on their ballot," Davis explained. A commenter to yesterday's post, ROSS in Detroit, said he'd received one of these calls, writing:
"I'm in MI near Detroit. My ZIP Code is heavily Dem. I just got one of the push poll robocalls described. It urged me as a Democrat to cross over and vote in the GOP primary for Huckabee! It was immediately clear at the beginning of the 2 min 45 sec call that this was in favor of Huckabee. . . . ."
See below for another description of the calls by another TPM reader.
Davis defended the calls, saying that the group's activities were "well within federal law." And he repeated the group's explanation as for why these weren't push polls (imitations of polls meant to disperse negative information). Every call is unique, he said, because of the group's "personal identification artificial intelligence" technology. And "every bit of it is factual."
It's unclear how much money the group has raised or how much they've spent on these calls and television ads. As required by law, they've disclosed certain activities to the Federal Election Commission -- about $100,000 worth, though only $7,610 of that was to pay for these calls. When I asked him about that, he said that the majority of the calls were "issue" oriented "education" calls that were going to both voter and non-voting citizens -- the group only has to disclose expenses related to "express advocacy." Given that such calls cost anywhere from five to fifteen cents per call, it's safe to assume that the group has spent more than a quarter of a million dollars on the calls alone.
Since the group is a 501(c)4, they are not required by law to disclose their donors, and Davis wouldn't tell me how much they'd raised. However, they've publicly disclosed to the FEC having raised $100,000 from six contributors. The group (under the name Common Sense Ohio) spent $827,000 in the 2006 elections, according to data compiled by the Campaign Finance Institute.
Davis confirmed that the calls were used to get out the vote. The calls are used to identify voters' preferences on issues and candidates, he said, a list that's used on election day. "It's a typical GOTV strategy -- make a list and turn it out."
As for what's next? "Michigan is still a priority for us," he said, and said that the group "maybe" will launch a TV ad in South Carolina the way they did in Iowa.
Here's that TPM reader's description of another of the group's calls:
Thought you might like to know details about a robo-call just received by me in Ypsilanti, Michigan, approx. 8:15 PM, today the 10th. I was unable to write down a complete transcript of the call, but it was clearly pro-Huckabee and anti-Romney. In push-poll format, it gave me the lowdown on the two candidates. Huckabee wants my taxes lower, and supported the Bush tax cuts, while Romney is apparently out to tax me to support illegal immigrants in "sanctuary cities". It mentioned the immigration issue the most, mentioning the Minutemen organization endorsing Huckabee twice. It also brought up "the Clinton gun ban laws" and asked if I supported them. After saying no (to make sure I heard what came next), it said Romney endorsed these gun-grabbing laws, but that Huckabee not only didn't endorse them, but was a "life-long hunter" and has a concealed carry permit. That was the weirdest part. Gun control is one thing, but apparently I was supposed to be reassured because Huck is *personally* packin' heat.
Comments (18)
M M wrote on January 11, 2008 2:05 PM:At least this group is relatively out in the open. What a country! Clearly a shining light of democracy on the hill for all the world to emulate. I wonder what the push polls are like in Iran, Iraq or Russia? As long as these are illegal let's hope the Dems have groups like this running around to even things out.
CalD wrote on January 11, 2008 2:48 PM:Kos wants Michigan Democrats to vote Romney. He makes a pretty convincing case for it, too.
Anonymous wrote on January 11, 2008 3:00 PM:The calls sure sound like express advocacy of the election of a federal candidate, which is prohibited activity for a 501(c)(4), to me.
They should be a 527 that has to disclose their donors.
I'm surprised they dug up enough big donors to finance them for Huckabee. I thought all those folks required a Grover Norquist endorsement. I guess they went to some wealthy evangelical pro-lifers.
Bat Guano wrote on January 11, 2008 3:05 PM:This Dem/Ind home in a Dem-leaning Michigan town just got a call from a recorded John McCain. Caller ID: "Out of Area." I hung up on him, so don't know what he was saying. Something about how I should vote for him.
Powkat wrote on January 11, 2008 4:42 PM:Michigan Dems should vote Romney - or Guiliani - I read the Kos piece, too and it makes sense. I grew up in Midland, Mi - the cold dead heart of Michigan Republicanism - if I still lived there I would vote for Romney just to screw them. (But I had the good sense to move to Oregon 35 years ago, so I'm encouraging the few family I have left to do it.
mo2 wrote on January 11, 2008 4:42 PM:Did Common Sense Issues send the anonymous holiday cards that falsely claim to be from "the Romney family" and highlights Mitt Romney's Mormon faith to Republican mailboxes across South Carolina?
Node of Evil wrote on January 11, 2008 5:24 PM:I wonder how politically involved the "churches" have become. There was that guy John Boyd who sent out anti-Mormon literature in Florida. Here's a bit about him and what he does:
http://www.cults-a-la-carte.com/servlet/the-template/about/Page
He has lots of ties to various Christian churches, mainly through his speaking tours talking about cults. His group, Freedom Defense Advocates runs exposemittromney.com, and anti-Romney website. I could see a number of megachurches contributing to a campaign for Huckabee, and doing so through an organization that doesn't have to disclose its donor list. That being said, are religious organizations disallowed from contributing to those sorts of organizations? Many churches take positions on issues, but I wonder if supporting anything that mentions a candidate by name is illegal. If so, this could be a nice mucky story for kicking off 2008.
Von Zipper wrote on January 11, 2008 5:34 PM:Yep. Living in Michigan, Washtenaw County, recieved the call as well.
The robocall voice was an African American male, reading recorded script questions, with little emotion.
Questions were clearly slanted ("which is more important to you as a voter: Gun Control, Right-to-life or tax reduction")
While the call had teh appearace of a poll, it quickly became obvious that the responses were all pro Huck.
As for me, I have been following the DailyKos conversations on switching over and voting republican in the Michigan Primary, but at this time I am still "undecided"! :)
bob wrote on January 11, 2008 6:47 PM:Proctor and Gamble executive Nathan Estruth, the backer behind the Common Sense Issues group, once again trying to mislead and divide America.
Von Zipper, vote for Mitt to get back at Huckabee for push polling!
Shaun Dakin wrote on January 11, 2008 7:33 PM:These calls are an epidemic and are invading the privacy of All American Voters.
Our members are taking a stand and saying enough is enough at the National Political Do Not Contact Registry at StopPoliticalCalls.org.
Here is a quote from a member this morning:
"I find it very frustrating... I tend to get calls at the WORST time. I have a one year old daughter, and it NEVER fails that the phone will ring when I put her down for a nap or for bed. Also my vote is PRIVATE... so who do you think you are calling with a survey to find out who I am voting for!!! Stop calling me."
Regards,
Shaun Dakin
42Cliff wrote on January 12, 2008 2:30 AM:CEO and Founder
http://www.stoppoliticalcalls.org
I got the Huk push poll here in NH
...Now that you know more ...
blah blah I yelled RON PAUL!!!
Cause he wasn't a choice..
bastards.
5-15 calls a day, thanks caller ID!!
f'k e'm all!!
42Cliff wrote on January 12, 2008 4:06 AM:Oh, and I should mention, It was a computer on the other end of the line, so I don't think their costs were that much...
It wouldn't accept anything other than 'yes' or 'no' as a answer .. .
but I got around that by saying HELL NO!! [cause the computer only catches the 'NO' part right?]
anyway, I was hoping that they would tape it and Someone would have to listen to me saying 'HELL NO' as in - I don't agree with that!!
Elizabeth wrote on January 12, 2008 5:11 AM:I asked this on the previous article re: these calls but never got an answer. Before anyone takes 'retaliation' could someone please answer this:
--- what could or should a candidate do if some group (527 or other) is doing something like this robocalling that they truly want to stop or, if that's not possible, to make clear they do not approve, endorse or encourage it.
Assuming Huckabee does NOT want these types of calls made on his behalf, what could he do legally to stop them? what should he do to make his wishes clear even if he can't legally stop them? -- Remember, this could happen "on behalf of" any candidate.
CMartel2 wrote on January 12, 2008 6:52 AM:Huckabee's campaign has also been found guilty of encouraging workers to show up in church parking lots with flyers--but instructing them to never ask permission before going to work there, as they would likely be denied access.
Apparently Huckabee is less interested in what churches thing and more interested in getting Christian voters to fall for his tax hikes and spending sprees.
Hollyberries wrote on January 12, 2008 8:01 AM:Please listen...
If Mike Huckabee had made racial comments about a leading black candidate or sexist comments about a leading female candidate, he would have been castigated by the media. How he was able to launch his surge with religious bigotry is dumbfounding to me. It seems that everyone is oblivious to the obvious.
In the event that Mitt Romney does not win the nomination, then history will show that Mike Huckabee pulled off the political crime of the century. It was Mike Huckabee that raised religious issues among Iowa evangelicals by comments toward Romney's religion. As Huckabee's tactics started to show in the Iowa polls, Mitt responded with
his "Faith in America" speech. Romney was then forced to work on damage control. Romney's efforts in Iowa paid off and he continued to rise back in the polls but the damage gave him a second in a state he held firmly until Huckabee's misuse of the public forum.
McCain saw his window and concentrated on New Hampshire while Romney was being unduly "occupied" in Iowa. Romney was forced to aggressively address things detracting from what his positive messaging had been and did so famously. Romney then relied on comparison ads to contrast differences. These ads were constantly referred to as "attack ads" by Huckabee, who continually portrayed him as "desperate", and "attacking". Now Huckabee is able to capitalize on such tactics. Because of his use of the majority evangelical state of Iowa and with the ignorance/bias of the drive-by media toward the Mormon religion, he flew under the radar of a nation that has
worked since Lincoln to erase such bigotry.
A majority of the nation now sees only that Mike Huckabee won the Iowa caucus and that John McCain won New Hampshire but knows little of this back story. I think it important to present it. Observe for yourself and pass these perspectives along. We need a TRUE man for change and a proven record of turning things around in the oval office.
Mike Huckabee is truly tearing the Reagan/Bush coalition apart. Please endorse Mitt Romney.
Bat Guano wrote on January 12, 2008 3:41 PM:I done got PUSH-POLLED! Republicans are making us feel so special in Michigan.
Showed up as 703-961-1077, name "VIRGINIA" on the ID, just after noon, today, Saturday. Starts with a pro/con question about Bush. I answered honestly (as a Democrat... involved a lot of yelling "NO!") to see where it would take me. Obviously it's a Huckabee pushpoll. Ran down McCain and Romney. It also asked if I supported senator Levin, so it's tailored to Michigan.
Google that number, it's making waves. Turns out it's from:
Hinton, L
13296 Leafcrest Ln
Fairfax, VA 22033-4123
I didn't hear it clearly, but others say it mentions a "commonsensemichigan.org," registered in Canada, Nova Scotia, by "Domain Discreet."
Try calling the number, or looking up commonsensemichigan.org. You don't get anywhere.
Anyone in Fairfax want to check this place out? Of course, likely to be a locked faceless office.
Gus wrote on January 14, 2008 12:22 AM:We got it here in our Democratic household here in NV.
Bird wrote on January 14, 2008 11:01 PM:I got this call in Nevada last night around 9 PM. I couldn't believe the questions and the tone. Very far right and it seemed that the speaker (recorded) was shouting the questions/comments. I got a couple of nasty questions/comments about Harry Reid.
About 10 minutes after the call, I called the number that was on my caller id and it had already been disconnected!