polls

How do "they" conduct these political polls? Has anyone you know (or you) ever been called? I mean, I live in a "crucial" state and I just read a CNN article that said 47% of registered voters in North Carolina back Obama. I was not called for this poll. And I am a registered voter in North Carolina. The only person I know of who's ever been called for any sort of political poll was my friend in college, Ryan. He was called randomly (in his dorm room of all places!) about a possible run for president by Jessie Ventura and whether he would support that. Ryan said "Hell no. He was my mayor and now he's my governor. I don't want him as my president." I know they don't call cell phones, which creates quite the margin for error, but I have a landline. Jason's home pretty much all day--he'd tell me if we got called for a poll. Last night he and I were both wondering who gets called. Is it like being a Neilsen house?