Question about the calls for donations from the Obama and Edwards camps.

I received a call from the Obama camp and one from the Edwards camp asking for donations. The caller ID identified both as local area calls. After we hung up, I called information for the name and address of the organization and both times the information came back that there was no information on that number -- not that it was a private number, but that there was no information. Normally I would assume it's a cellphone, but the caller said the phone was being recorded.

I don't really care for the subterfuge because, back when I still had a few crumbs of a trusting nature, I fell for what turned out to be a Republican research firm gathering information on Independents. So, I'm wondering how everyone feels about these calls? Are volunteers using their personal phones to make these calls? If so, how do they manage to get a phone number which is untraceable, and by that I mean that it's not even identified as a private number?

ago for Edwards, I used my own cell phone because I have a national plan with free weekend and evening minutes - I was instructed, because it was my own phone, to *67 before making the call. I appreciated the tip, for the very reason of getting call backs to my cell number at any time. I did encounter a few numbers that didn't accept blocked calls - those I dialed the number direct and I did get a strange call back the other day. I'm assuming it's from that day because it's a brand new cell phone with a brand new number, crap, my Mom doesn't even have it memorized yet. There was no subterfuge there in my experience as a phone banker, and I hope it's the same with yours.

Personally, we weren't given the option to use anything but our names on our cellphones. Maybe things have changed within the last year or so. But, ever since my experience with the Republican miners, I just don't trust calls, as a rule.

my caller ID as John Edwards with a NC phone number. I phone banked for Edwards earlier today from my home phone and there was nothing in the provided script to solicit donations, only to inquire if supporters were interested in volunteering.

that he'll be working the state in that way.

my daughter worked for one in 2004. the company that she worked for could only call out of state residents on political issues. she made calls for some politician in kentucky. she also did some polling on the issues in various states