UPDATED: Branstad is robocalling Democrats

An alert Bleeding Heartland reader got a recorded phone call around dinnertime today (Monday), featuring former Governor Terry Branstad.

Apparently there were a couple of questions about how Governor Chet Culver is doing and his handling of spending and the budget. Branstad’s recorded voice touted his own record on economic policy.

The call also asked if the listener would support a constitutional ammendment limiting marriage to between one man and one woman, and if the listener would vote for Branstad in the upcoming Republican primary.

According to my e-mail tipster, the call said it was paid for by the Branstad for Governor comittee, and gave a phone number as well as the address for Branstad’s campaign website.

This particular household has two registered Democrats and no registered Republicans, and the homeowner has had the same phone number for more than 15 years. Either the calling firm was using a bad list, or Branstad’s campaign is reaching out to find Democrats who aren’t happy with Culver.

Have any other Bleeding Heartland readers received this call? If so, please post a comment with details, or send me an e-mail at desmoinesdem AT yahoo.com.

Remember, it’s helpful not to hang up on political robocalls or surveys. Stay on the line and take notes, if possible, about the content of the call, who paid for the message, and so on.

UPDATE: Another reader tells me he got the call but hung up on it, and there are two registered Democrats in his household as well.

SECOND UPDATE: If Branstad’s campaign is trying to identify Democrats willing to cross over to vote for him in the Republican primary, it makes me wonder what their internal polling says about Branstad’s prospects against Bob Vander Plaats.

THIRD UPDATE: State Representative Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids got the call too.

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desmoinesdem

  • We also got the call

    We are both registered Democrats at this number.  I have had this number for 9 years.

  • We got the same call.

    Both registered Dems.

    Unfortunately, I was still in vacation fog and automatically responded “No” when asked if I was “concerned about Iowa’s future.”  Branstad immediately thanked me for my time and hung up.  I forgot for a moment that giving the “right” answer to the first question usually determines whether or not you get to hear any more of the survey.

    • clever first question

      A lot of Democrats might say they are “concerned” about Iowa’s future–sure, I’m concerned about it, that doesn’t mean I’m going to vote for a Republican.

      • I agree that it was clever...

        I guess my crabbiness at hearing Branstad’s voice just as I was coming off a lovely holiday vacation outdid his cleverness.  If he’s trolling for crossover Dems, he’s calling the wrong household.

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