This may be something only I find interesting, but on a micro level, what's the difference, in terms of strictly actual strategy and grass roots organization irrespective of politics or partisanship, this year between Obama and McCain? The difference rests with Twitter.
Don't get me wrong: the primetime TV spots, radio ads, mass mailings, phone canvassing and all the other traditional forms of campaigning are important. However, in an increasingly digital age with the decentralization of news and communication, the winner will be decided by those who can successfully leverage the Internet. As any student knows today, JFK was able to defeat Nixon in large part due to his ability to first exploit an advantage with televised debates, and thus ushering in an era marking the central importance of television for politicians. A similar revolution today is taking place. But instead of JFK and the TV, it involves Obama and the Internet.
Barack Obama has an active Twitter page with over 39,000 followers. Again, this is on a micro level, but it is a good representation that demonstrates how the Obama campaign "gets it" and is arguably running the first bellwether digital campaign that has successfully grabbed the Internet by its proverbial horns. Rather than letting itself be "Swiftboated" and its message controlled and twisted by others, Obama's presidential campaign is utilizing the vast array of vehicles of communication that are available online, be it social networking sites or user-generated content, and transforming it into a well-oiled hive-mind: E pluribus unum, or "Out of many, one." And that one being a particular message dictated by Obama's camp.
For a campaign or politician that doesn't "get it," the usage of Twitter would probably draw a complete blank (I have a hard enough time explaining the service to friends). However, Twitter can be described by a traditional political definition: Sound bites. Each Twitter update is essentially series of short sound bites, which are easily digestible, bloggable, and uhm, forwardable (you get the point). While 39,000 followers (or subscribers rather) is merely a blip, just picture the impact of 39,000 stones being tossed into a pond and the ensuing ripples. The impact can be exponential.
And on top of all this, the service is also FREE thus freeing up valuable campaign funds and resources.
I really hope political science professors are taking note of this BRILLIANT entry. Class is in session suckas.
[Note: I know that the soapbox is starting to get scuffed from all the times I've been stepping up onto it, especially as of late. I promise this isn't a frequent thing--just every four years or so. I'll soon go back to posting about absurd YouTube videos shortly, so don't go away!]