I know, I know. That’s a pretty grand title for a blog post. Yet, it’s a topic that really gets me going from time-to-time. I think that the impact of new technologies related to wireless technology, GPS, computers, and the internet are just beginning to be realized and we have a long way to go.
I look at this post as a forum to talk about ways technology will play in Iowa during the run to the 2008 caucus. I think this post from the Hotline blog can serve as a jumping off point. It’s discussing the Romney caucus operation:
A walk provides a window into the soul of the Romney campaign: efficient, high-tech, friendly, driven. The rows of tables are ready for phone bankers. Where are the phones? There aren’t any. Collins decided to buy dozens of cell phones. They’re cheaper, don’t require a deposit, and can be easily transported to, say, Ottumwa for multi-purposing. They can also be tracked. They don’t break as easily. And Collins can avoid haggling with the local phone company.
Will the 2008 caucus, then General Election, herald the end of the centralized phone bank and campaign organization? MoveOn and a number of other organizations have started to use “distributed campaign tools”…they include automated phone banking, MySpace, Facebook, and a number of other social networking tools. Thoughts?
4 Comments
Cell phones? Pfeh!! Just the tip of the iceberg.
This started out as a quick critique of Mark’s post and turned into a rather longer screed that I’ve just gone ahead and posted as its own diary. Also posted over on my blog. Thanks for the inspiration, Mark!
cman Fri 6 Apr 10:08 AM
Cell phones? Pfeh!! Just the tip of the iceberg.
This started out as a quick critique of Mark’s post and turned into a rather longer screed that I’ve just gone ahead and posted as its own diary. Also posted over on my blog. Thanks for the inspiration, Mark!
cman Fri 6 Apr 10:09 AM
In fact...
I think I actually agree with much of what Cman says about the decline of “phone banking” as a tool for voter ID and GOTV. What I’m most excited about is the use of the cell phone as a node in a more “distributed” campaign.
I don’t actually agree with the Romney model discussed in the post. The way I see it – campaigns can operate like “swarms” in many ways. Activists can be motivated to participate and the cell phone provides a great way to send real time information to members of the campaign organization. Additionally, the marriage of GPS technology to wireless technology – coupled with GIS mapping data will allow targetting of likely voters down to the individual block.
This is interesting stuff – and we are on the tip of the iceberg. I also think that the next wave of technological innovation will intersect in many ways with the “affinity groups” that Cman talks about as well.
mark-langgin Fri 6 Apr 10:27 PM
How much do you want to bet
That they have some phone lines in there before the end of the campaign? I don’t know too many 70 year old ladies that want to deal with a tiny little cell phone when they are making their calls.
simon-stevenson Thu 12 Apr 7:33 PM