This is yet another way to narrow down the field of candidates, Dan. So far, I won't vote for anyone with a ginormous sign on the roadside, anyone who impeded my view of bus arrivals at my corner in the mornings (Brochin, this means you - and your huge sign), and anyone who has had the audacity to call me, especially over the weekend. I was going to vote for Cardin, but now that he has the wife shilling for him....sorry Ben.

Wow, making voting decisions based on the size of signs and timing of phone calls. How much more informed can the American electorate get!?!? Government "of the people" certainly has its limits.

I've questioned whether or not this technique is actually doing more harm than good. And caused a little controversy to boot (http://politics.stephaniedray.com/?q=node/47).

I think I may have to disable Anonymous comments.

I hope you're not running, Mike, because I also won't vote for someone without a sense of humor. :)

Right on, Dan!!! I have had to stop answering my phone! I don't ever remember anything like this invasive barrage of annoying recorded phone calls. They will not influence my vote in any way, unless there is a law on the ballot that prohibits automatically dialed, recorded campaign commercials!!! I wonder how many people are swayed in a positive direction because of them?! Anyone?

There are times when calling by the candidate is the only way to get the word out. Congressional District 6 runs from Harford County in the East to Garrett County in the West. The mainstream media has decided this race is not worthy of coverage and it's not necessary to profile the candidates. The editors at the Sun have forgotten parts of Harford and Baltimore County are in the District. If voting patterns hold true, less than 22% of registered voters will decide the election. Calling by the candidate is a way to help ensure that the minority does not dictate the path the nation will pursue over the next 2 to 6 years. If it wasn't for the candidates websites the majority of the voters would not even know who was running for office.

Due to public demand, the Congress passed anti-phone spam legislation, carefully excepting politicians from the ban. Remarkably hypocritical, even for politicians.

If any of these candidates had any sense, they would campaign on the promise to expand the law to remove the exemption on these calls, and would, I believe, win in a landslide.

I don't beleive desions for canidates should be based on those annoying calls, but I changed my mind about Cardin and Sarbanes for the simple reasons of so many annoying calls. Even after you tell them they have your vote they kept calling.
Sorry Ben, John, and mrs Hollinger's daughter who called 10 times.

My favorite call among the recorded calls from politicians was from William Donald Schaefer. In addition to his "vote for me" message, he says there have been NO scandals during his terms in office. Guess his memory isn't what is used to be.

In 2004, I received a handful of these calls. This year, I have lost count. How can we OPT-OUT from receiving these unwanted calls?

I'm with Kathy. Ben almost got my vote, but when the Cardin Campaign decided to have Mrs. Cardin auto call my home (4) times in a 90 minute period on Sunday evening, (MY LORD'S DAY), Mona made a big mistake!

This has become insane. The polls close in 45 minutes - I'm receiving calls from Sarbanes every 5 minutes. I do not base my vote on a telephone call. Am I going to have to pay Verizon to block unwanted calls to make this stop. It's been going on for weeks and I need it to end! Thanks for the chance to vent..

If I have contacted the "DO NOT CALL" registry,that is what I expect. I agree, no-one calling me on a Sunday night will get my vote.

This new phone-call process it completely unacceptable, and to a degree an invasion of privacy. If a real person can't make the call, then don't bother me at all. Not that I want to get ANY telephone "vote for me!" calls...

The never-ending phone calls nearly drove me insane. It was the most rude, intrusive campaign tactic that I've ever seen.

On a lighter note, I did laugh out loud when I listened to one message left by the Cardin campaign for my husband. They said that they were calling in reference to his request for a ride to the polling place. Funny, he is in good health, has a driver's license and a vehicle. Even funnier, he was out of town on business in Alabama. I almost called them back to tell them where to pick him up...