Frustration over automated phone calls from the John McCain campaign prompted Missouri Democrats to launch their own round of robo calls Thursday.

In an ironic twist, one of St. Joseph’s most vocal advocates of placing political robo calls on to the state’s No Call List defended the reaction.

“This is not a robo call. It’s a response call,” state Rep. Ed Wildberger, D-St. Joseph, said during a news conference at the Buchanan County Democratic Headquarters. “Unfortunately, we can not sit by and not answer these accusations.”

Voters with landline phones in recent nights may have heard a recording of Rudy Giuliani suggesting Mr. Obama is soft on crime or an automated voice pointing to Mr. Obama’s prior involvement with William Ayers, a former Weather Underground leader who is now a college professor.

The call says Mr. Obama “has worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers, whose organization bombed the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, a judge’s home and killed Americans,” despite the Democrat’s

condemnation of Mr. Ayers’ actions, according to the Associated Press.

The McCain campaign stood by the calls Thursday.

“Missouri is the Show-Me-State. I think it’s time Barack Obama show them all his cards when it comes to his past dealings with Bill Ayers,” said Republican National Committee spokesman Chris Taylor.

Democrats have dubbed the calls as “sleazy attacks,” but they’re using a longtime Republican in their counter-calls.

“We’re not fighting fire with fire,” said Mr. Wildberger, who for multiple legislative sessions has authored bills to crack down on such calls.

He said Lynn Weber, of Marthasville, Mo., clearly identifies herself and while critical of Mr. McCain, is not attacking him.

“As a Republican, I have supported John McCain in the past because he honorably served our country — but this year he’s running a dishonorable campaign,” Ms. Weber says in the call.

The calls were scheduled to start in Missouri Thursday night.

“It’s laughable ... that they’re using a robo call to push back against robo calls,” Mr. Taylor said.

Alyson E. Raletz can be reached

at alysonraletz@npgco.com.

A reporter misidentified who a Republican was criticizing in an automated phone call in a story that ran on the front page of Friday’s edition. Lynn Weber, of Marthasville, Mo., was critical of John McCain, said Rep. Ed Wildberger, D-St. Joseph.