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Obama calls on his Internet campaign army to march again
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008
By Frank Greve | McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama's 3 million campaign volunteers got re-enlistment notices this week.
Campaign manager David Plouffe, in a mass e-mail sent Wednesday to former workers, asked how much time they can spare for four missions integral to Obama's effort to transform his victory into a broader political movement.
The volunteers' options are, Plouffe wrote:
"These people have just opened up a new world for politics," added Hess, the author of "What Do We Do Now?: A Workbook for the President-Elect."
Pre-Internet presidents, he said, lacked the ability to communicate in real time with masses of their volunteers. In addition, the social networks such as MySpace and Facebook that link Obama's army together didn't exist.
The net effect was that pre-Obama political machines grew out of local politics and remained rooted there. Statewide or presidential candidates relied largely on local leaders' support.
Not so Obama, who, at least for now, has the allegiance of thousands of volunteers in most if not all congressional districts.
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008
By Frank Greve | McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama's 3 million campaign volunteers got re-enlistment notices this week.
Campaign manager David Plouffe, in a mass e-mail sent Wednesday to former workers, asked how much time they can spare for four missions integral to Obama's effort to transform his victory into a broader political movement.
The volunteers' options are, Plouffe wrote:
- Campaign for progressive state and local candidates
- Undertake grassroots local efforts to advance Obama's agenda
- Train others in Obama's organizing techniques
- Focus on local political issues.
"These people have just opened up a new world for politics," added Hess, the author of "What Do We Do Now?: A Workbook for the President-Elect."
Pre-Internet presidents, he said, lacked the ability to communicate in real time with masses of their volunteers. In addition, the social networks such as MySpace and Facebook that link Obama's army together didn't exist.
The net effect was that pre-Obama political machines grew out of local politics and remained rooted there. Statewide or presidential candidates relied largely on local leaders' support.
Not so Obama, who, at least for now, has the allegiance of thousands of volunteers in most if not all congressional districts.