Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charlie Brown (D) has called on state Sen. Tom McClintock (R) to abandon the use of robocalls in their battle for the open 4th district seat — a request that the McClintock campaign flatly refused.

“Campaigns are supposed to be about voters interacting with the candidates and making informed choices on the issues,” Brown said in a statement released by his campaign. “Robo-dial phone calls are a nuisance and a deceptive campaign tactic.”

McClintock campaign spokesman Bill George responded by calling on Brown to cease the use of “deceptive mailers” that he claims inaccurately claimed the support of an anti-tax group.

The suburban Sacramento 4th district is solid conservative territory. But Brown has kept the race competitive, although McClintock remains favored to win the contest by most political observers monitoring the race.

Brown nearly defeated outgoing Rep. John Doolittle (R) in 2006.