• Cnet, Thursday, October 23, 2008 11 AM

The computer calling to let you know that Barack Obama has an extreme leftist agenda doesn't care that you're on the Federal "Do Not Call" Registry. It doesn't have to. When that registry was created, politicians intentionally left themselves a loophole that allows such calls -- now in use by both candidates -- to go on unabated, despite little evidence that they work.

So why do they remain popular with candidates? Observers say it's mostly about money. Robocalls are an easy way to reach millions of people in their homes with a direct message, no matter how unwelcome they may be. Although no one has a firm count on how much robocalling is actually going on at any given money, estimates suggest the McCain camp is using them considerably more, which would make sense given the Obama campaign's fundraising advantage.

The technology is essentially a Web-based interface, or software on a computer with a dialer capacity, connected to a high speed line or voice over IP. Some voter-calling firms develop their own software, though there is no shortage of politically affiliated firms offering their own versions.

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