The last-minute anonymous robo-call attacks targeting state Rep. Sam Page, a Democrat running for lieutenant governor, intensified over the weekend — with a new twist.

Page’s campaign says it has been receiving reports of 3 a.m. robo-calls “pretending to be in support of Sam Page… as much as nine times to the same number.”

Such calls obviously make the victims angry, and are aimed at getting them mad enough so they won’t vote for Page on Tuesday, he said.

“This allows cowards to hide and this is why voters are losing faith in our electoral system,” Page said. “I apologize to all who are the victims of this hoax.”

The Missouri Republican Party and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a Republican, have both denied any involvement in the anonymous robo-call blitz. State law doesn’t require such calls to identify who’s paying for them, unlike fliers and TV and radio ads.

Kinder is running anti-Page radio ads. A earlier version of the robo-calls had a similar script.

In any case, Page said he doesn’t believe the GOP denials.

“A dear Republican friend called to apologize,” Page said. “He assured me that this isn’t the real Republican Party; unfortunately the dirty-trick wing has taken control, but not for too much longer.

“I hope that is true. This kind of corruption could bring down a great civilization.”