NY politicians squabble over campaign 'robo-calls'

New York state Sen. Vincent Leibell says he's had sheriff's deputies guarding his Putnam County home since a fellow Republican paid for "robo-calls" encouraging voters to call the senator at his unpublished home number.

Leibell, who represents Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties, says state Assemblyman Greg Ball's automated voice message resulted in hundreds of calls to his home on Friday.

Ball, a Republican representing the same counties, says he arranged for the calls in response to negative campaign ads he believes were funded by Leibell. One ad likens Ball to Adolf Hitler and says it's "paid for by friends of John Degnan" -- the Republican trying to unseat Ball in next week's primary election.

Leibell denies funding the advertising.
   
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