Robo-Calls vs. Texts

Obama Text  Here is a good article from Slate on the efficacy of robo-calls vs. texts.  We’ll be discussing these in class on Tuesday as part of the web sphere’s GOTV options.

Compared with TV advertising, door-to-door canvassing, and mega-rallies, automated phone calls are seductive because they harness modern telecommunications technology in the service of political persuasion. That being said, it’s Obama’s campaign, not McCain’s, that has hit upon the cheapest effective way of contacting voters via the phone: text messaging. During the last two years, Obama has collected hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of cell phone numbers from loyal supporters and new registrants. Now his campaign is sending out text messages to people across the country—the texts remind people to register to vote, to go to the polls, and to organize others on behalf of the campaign.

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