Political Paradigm Transformation

November 10, 2009 by Steve Schultz @GeniusbyOsmosis · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Campaign Technology, Red Alert Hour Webcast, Social Media, local politics

I was reading an article today, yes, from the Huffington Post, by Jose Antonio Vargas, where he discusses the the technological transformation we experience during Obama v. McCain Presidential election. We’ve discussed this time and time again but now that we’re “one year later” we should take a look back at what really did happen.

I think it was my very first blog post on ORS, Purchasing Power of Social Media, where I discussed the impact the Internet had on fund raising. Donations of $200 or LESS, were 45% of the $744.9 million raised. 6.5 million donations were made online. Obama’s email list was 13 million addresses. Obama also overwhelmingly won the sub-30 age group.

Your constituency chooses to be communicated to in different ways. Some like TV, others like Facebook, some are into Twitter, and some still like yard signs. Either way, you need to be able to communicate in whichever way THEY prefer. It’s not a choice, it’s a necessity.

Many candidates assume the Internet is just how they communicate with their constituents. No. Did you miss the fact that Obama had 6.5 million online donations? They averaged $80 and many donated multiple times. Your job during your candidacy is to raise money! You need money! No money means you lose! Use the Internet to raise money.

One year later, many of his following feels alienated. They feel like they have been forgotten. Climate change, immigration, and other issues have fallen by the wayside. They tweet about it. They talk about it on Facebook or even My.BarackObama.com. We cannot over-emphasize that the Internet is not just a tool to get elected. This is why ORS is, more or less, political career management. We help you get elected AND represent your constituency.

Technology won’t stop changing which is why this paradigm shift isn’t likely to stop any time soon. Even since Obama was elected things have changed even more. Facebook numbers have increased, Twitter demographics have changed, everything keeps on moving and fortunately, if you use it right, it’s moving to your advantage.

It really does come down to this. Obama almost did it right. Communicate. Raise Money. Manage Your Constituents.