Email and the Presidential Campaign — ClickZ Comments

by Brian Reich | 4 Mar 2008, 2:00am

I was quoted in an article for ClickZ today talking about how the Clinton and Obama campaigns are using email in their GOTV efforts in Texas.   Here is a quick excerpt:

Still, the fact is e-mail recipients haven’t all made up their minds. By neglecting to discuss issues in recent e-mails to Texas voters and distinguish one candidate from the other, both campaigns may have taken support for granted.

“It assumes that everybody who signs up for the e-mail list is a supporter…and in a closely contested race that people aren’t looking for reinforcement of why they should vote,” said Reich. “Campaigns do themselves a disservice by thinking that e-mail in particular is not going to fall into somebody’s inbox who needs more than just a reminder to find their polling place.”

You can read the whole article here.

I think the campaigns have missed a significant opportunity to use email to reach and engage prospective voters and talk about issues that are important on a local level.   The content of the emails could have been more focused, more practical, and generally more inspiring.   There are so many advancements in the use of technology to support grassroots politics this year it surprises me that email was overlooked.
There is still a lot of campaigning to do this year, so maybe the campaigns will learn their lesson.

TAGS : Barack Obama Email Hillary Clinton politics