Political World: Hype vs Reality in Campaign ’08

Michael Silberman, EchoDitto

“Political campaigns have been having a ot of trouble figuring out how to empower their volunteers to do actual field work.”

Amy Schatz, Wall Street Journal

“This cycle, news organizations are experimenting…  trying Facebook, etc.  We’re not sure how much this is helping anybody.”

Ellen Miller, Sunlight Foundation

“It has been remarkable to see what has happened on Facebook in the campaigns.”

John Della VOlpe, SocialSphere & Harvard University

“Our main interest is in the Millenial Generation… A big part of the story this year is the impact of this generation.”  The role of technology is one of 3 factors of the impact of this generation, also the post-9/11 generational mentality, and campaigns giving away authority to its grassroots.

Catherine Geanuracos, Live Earth

“I think the Obama campaign’s use of text messaging is impressive… That’s where I see innovation, more and more distributed events.”

Carolyn Washburn, Des Moines Register

“I was deep in the Iowa caucus coverage… the biggest thing that happened for us this year is that, we, our community, and the candidates started being more robust…” in technological innovation, including mapping.

Anthony Wojtkowiak, MTV Street Team

“We’re reporting on political news and… social advocacy… What’s innovative about it… is the way the communication that is coming the people…” who are involved and knowledgeable in their community.”

First question: “There are notable examples of innovation, but the campaigns and nonprofit organizations remain the same.  For example Obama campaign spent most of the money raised on traditional political advertising.  Are we going to see true change in the way politics are waged?”

Amy: “We’ve got a lot more reporters out there, ” professional, bloggers MTV street teams.  “It’s very hard for candidates to ever switch off.”

Catherine: “This tension between wanting to control the message and wanting genuine voices to reach laterally to each other… ”

Ellen: fedspending.org.  Fedspending has already had 7 million searches.  “Our challenge is now to make the [wealth of] information easy to digest.”

Brian: “Are campaigns and organizations tone deaf?” Not seeing the desire for detailed information.

Anthony:  “There’s still some fear for these candidate… The way the information can be controlled is different than how it can be controlled through television… Unfortunately… these candidates aren’t [yet] really talking to us,” when they are asking in depth, interesting questions.

Brian: “Is the fear grounded, or should they change tack and respond for the desire for information.”

John: Campaigns are “always running the last best model… We are still a cycle or two away from when the new generation, Web 2.0, really taking over… We know that young people.. are involved in their community.  What’s the next step in terms of government participation.”

Audience question: “Obama’s been criticized for lack of specifics.  Is that true or is that he is so charismatic that the press is following that story rather than substance and detail from the Obama campaign while they cover the substance of the Clinton campaign?”

Carolyn: They are playing positions that work for them (charisma vs substance).

Anthony: “They’re all putting out detailed policy plans.”

Audience: “Where is the innovation in politics?”  Bush campaigns created an amway model of volunteer outreach.  What about non-electornic organizaing?

John: check out the openness of voter files. Need to connect the online with the offline.

Catherine: Working on mobilizing engaged youth to inspire their parents.

Brian: Are there organizing efforts that resolve “little politics” issues?  Is it being covered.

Michael: They should be opening up, but they are in an unfamiliar media landscape.  Positive example: Obama donor matching program.  A lo of what is happening is happening outside of the format of formal organizations.  Examples: Genocide Intervention Network, Step it Up climate campaign.

Audience: How do you reconcile the click and play “e-activists” and hyper active “web 2.0” activists with a rank and file, command and control field, GOTV strategy or should you even do that?

Catherine: Ideally, you have a robust enough online-offline strategy, you give people as many doors in to enagage at their level of interest.

Final thoughts:

Anthony: “Something has started.. opportunities to open dialogue about issues.”

Carolyn: “How do we take from what we learn this year, including non-national races… to create a story line and intimacy that makes people want to get involved?”

Catherine: “Stop thinking of peopleas a voter where the interaction ends after the election.”

John: “There are more people who want to be involved than are.  There are still barriers to overcome.”

Ellen: “If I could wave a magic wand… I would say more openness and transparecny [to] dispel notions of corruption…”

Amy: We’ll see “some of these things happening at the national level taken to the local level.”

Michael: “Immediately move from treating folks like fans… and come up with ways to make voters have… valuable roles in campaigns.”

Brian: “I would like to see that in policy development as well.”