|
|
  |
 |
|
Web As Organizer
It takes a lot of people to run an election campaign, and the bigger the election, the more people are needed. A modern Presidential campaign needs hundreds of thousands of volunteers and paid workers, many working for a year or more. Getting all these people to work as a team, and to deliver the same message, can be very difficult. Nowadays, the power of the Web as an organizational tool can make the job a little easier.
Getting the Word Out
Let’s say you’re the campaign manager for a presidential candidate who wants to make an unscheduled visit to a battleground state. He’s just flying in for a few hours to try and win enough votes to put him over the top. How do you make sure there’s a big, enthusiastic crowd at his speech? Well, you call the TV networks and newspapers, and make sure your campaign leaders in that city know what’s happening. But you can also use the Internet. In a few short minutes, you can e-mail hundreds of influential political bloggers, voting group leaders, and other persuasive people in the city you’ve targeted. Those people can post your message on their sites or forward it to the people on their lists…and before you know it, thousands of supporters are cheering your candidate as he steps off the plane at their city’s airport. The Internet is the ultimate tool for “getting the word out,” especially if you have to do it quickly!
Rallying the Troops
It’s easy for political campaigns to lose steam, and for workers, volunteers, and even voters to get tired after weeks and months of effort. Candidates use the Web to keep people excited about their message and their candidacy, through virtual meetings, targeting messages to certain areas or groups, and e-mail updates or blog entries. If a campaign looks like it’s keeping in touch with all of its workers and supporters, those people will be inspired to keep up the good work…all the way to election day.
Quick Reactions
The power of the Web lets politicians react quickly to new developments and circumstances. If an opponent makes a certain claim in a speech, a candidate can have an opposing argument up on his website within minutes, or can send out a quick e-mail response so that everyone working on the campaign knows what to say to reporters. Things happen fast in today’s political world, and the web can help everyone in the campaign stay “on message.”
Fundraising
It takes a lot of money to run for office in the U.S., and politicians are getting super-smart about using the Web to raise campaign cash. Successful candidates keep huge e-mail lists of supporters and contributors, and can quickly send out mass-appeals for money. Targeted e-mails can be tailored around a certain hot-button issue, like immigration, or a certain location, like a state race, if the candidates believe that these things will inspire donations. In many cases, supporters can also donate directly through a candidate’s website or party website.
Social Networking
Another new tool in the political game is social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. These sites are a quick and easy way for voters to connect with candidates and one another. In June 2008, 10% of Americans had used social networking websites for some kind of political activity*, and if politicians see this networking as a useful way to win support, this percentage will keep going up!
|
 |
|
