2004 Presidential Election
It's been interesting to observe the use of Internet technologies in the election so far. Howard Dean has obviously made the biggest splash. It seems like the other candidates are afraid to do the same things as Dean. Maybe this is a fear of appearing to let an opponent lead the conversation. The reason this is failing is because Dean is beating the others in the application of technology. The other campaigns need to copy the Dean campaign in implementation. There isn't enough time to find other sweet spots to exploit. Their strategy should include engaging each other in a weblog conversation.
Weblog conversations are different. They include links from a loose network of communities. Communities of interest overlap around the candidate's community. Information flows almost instantly in random patterns.
Dean, Kerry, Lieberman, Graham, and Edwards are all using e-mail, pretty much in the same way. Lots of anti-administration stuff, a pitch for dough, some stuff from the campaign staff about their candidate, a quote or two. Bush is pro-administration of course and he's also asking for dough.  Carol Mosely Braun has only sent a couple of messages.
Joe Lieberman asked his e-mail list to answer questions in an attempt to poll respondents on several issues. He asked me about immigration laws. Of course he should be mining the comments on his weblog. He didn't seem to buy my argument that immigration is good for a creative center like Denver since he didn't mention in the debate in Albuequerque. He needs to read this book.
I received a fundraising letter from John Kerry. The campaign must have mailed to those on the e-mail list who provided an address, an example of using information collected on the web to approach people in a traditional way.
No one is doing a good job of spreading the word on scheduling.
9:55:59 PM 
|
