Research firm Western Wats got busted for conducting phone surveys in New Hampshire and Iowa that criticize Mitt Romney and his Mormon beliefs. One Iowa civics teacher says he was asked to take a poll featuring "lots of negatives on Romney," including questions about his hiring of illegal immigrants and "common criticisms of Mormonism." (Ironically, Western Wats is based in Utah.) The firm refused to divulge who commissioned the poll, citing client confidentiality.

This type of survey, known as a "push poll," is intended not to gauge a respondent's attitudes, but rather to plant opinions in voters' minds. Does it really work? Listen to a recent Western Wats call and judge for yourself.