Romney Campaign Referred Reporters to Anti-Romney Call Recipients ... They Were On Romney Payroll

Source: TPM

Deepening the mystery surrounding the anti-Mormon polling calls, the Romney campaign is confirming that it referred reporters to two recipients of the calls without disclosing that the two were also on the Romney campaign payroll, TPM Election Central has learned.

In response to questions from TPM Election Central, Romney spokesman Kevin Madden confirmed that the campaign had failed to disclose this info to reporters. Madden suggested that the campaign had identified them as "supporters," which is a far cry from being directly paid by the campaign, as the two call recipients were.

The revelation could add grist to the theory -- now spreading on conservative blogs and even getting coverage by news organizations -- that the Romney campaign itself is behind the calls. Some have speculated that the calls -- which attack Romney and refer to his Mormon faith while saying positive things about McCain -- are an effort by the campaign to test negative messages about itself while getting McCain blamed for the calls.

The new revelation raises the question of whether the firm making the calls -- which is already reported to have on staff several people who have donated to the Romney campaign -- knowingly called Romney supporters because they could be counted on to tell the press about the calls and to suggest to reporters that Romney rival John McCain was behind them.

Read more: http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/11/two_voters_who_reported_geting_antiromney_calls_didnt_disclose_that_theyre_on_romneys_payroll.php

Maybe Romney should be more careful next time.

This isn't anything new. During the 1960 primaries the JFK campaign orchestrated similar calls attacking Kennedy's Catholic faith. They would call urban and predominately Catholic areas to get sympathy votes.

with this theory which I posted on another thread. Push polls work. They are sleazy, unethical but they do work.

I can't imagine Romney, who's lead in Iowa is shrinking, to take this kind of risk. He could push-poll himself right out of the lead. If it is traced back to him then he really runs the risk of alienating the voters.

Too many variables that can't be controlled. I don't trust Mitwit and have a visceral dislike for the man. One of the reasons is that he seems to be such a programmed control freak. This is the kind of tactic that lacks that tight control that he demonstrates.

Mz Pip
:dem:

it would be very hard to get a Mormon to spread lies about his own religion. The calls use an anti-mormon talking point that drives LDS members insane. I have a very hard time believing a member of the church would spread anti-mormon propaganda, be it the pollers or Mitt - that would alienate any LDS that were going to support for him (which is a lot of money).