The National Republican Congressional Committee agreed yesterday to stop sending prerecorded messages to residents on the federal Do Not Call Registry, according to Deputy Attorney General Bud Fitch.

The move came after Democratic Party activists complained over the weekend that voters in the 2nd Congressional District were being called with an automatic message. The message sounded as though it came from Democratic candidate Paul Hodes, but it actually came from the Republican organization. The calls began by saying, "I'm calling with information about Paul Hodes," and then continued with negative messages about Hodes.

It is illegal under state law to send prerecorded political messages to those on the do-not-call list. Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass, who faces Hodes in tomorrow's vote, denounced the calls, but he said he has no power over the national organization, whose purpose is to elect Republicans to the House.

NRCC spokesman Alex Burgos would not say yesterday whether the organization had changed its strategy and would not comment on its interaction with the attorney general's office.

"Our calls will continue independently of Congressman Bass in compliance with all applicable laws," he said. "Our plans in New Hampshire will proceed as scheduled with the intent of informing voters on Paul Hodes's stances on the issues."

Burgos would not say whether previous calls had complied with the laws relating to the federal registry. The NRCC spent $19,322 in four payments last week on phone banks opposing Hodes, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Although New Hampshire residents on the federal list can receive live political calls, calling them with a prerecorded message is punishable by a $5,000 penalty per violation. Fitch said there is an open investigation into the NRCC calls; he would not say whether legal action will be taken.

Kathy Sullivan, chairwoman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, said her party is "prepared and ready to pursue any legal course of action necessary to protect the people of New Hampshire from illegal activities from any Republican operative or political organization."

"They knew for days they were violating New Hampshire law," she said.

Sullivan said the state Democratic Party started getting complaints from voters on Friday and sent a letter to the attorney general's office asking for a cease and desist order. When the calls continued on Saturday, Sullivan said she called the attorney general's office to urge them to take action. Fitch said the office spoke to a number of people who claimed to be getting the calls in recent days. Although the office did not issue a cease-and-desist order, Fitch said the RNCC voluntarily agreed to stop sending the prerecorded messages.

Sullivan criticized Bass for not taking a stronger stance against the calls.

"He refused to show leadership for three days, saying there was nothing he could do," she said. "Bass owes his constituents an apology because his congressional caucus continued to engage in this attack for so long."

She said the calls have damaged Hodes's campaign by leading voters to believe they were being harassed by Hodes.

Hodes said his campaign has gotten "lots of calls" from voters complaining about the phone calls.

"I'm glad that the New Hampshire attorney general's office and the Democrats were able to force the national Republican Party to stop their clearly illegal activity," he said. "It's disappointing that Mr. Bass and the New Hampshire Republican Party did not stand up to put a halt earlier to what was clearly illegal activity of the kind that we saw in 2002."

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