Political Technology

This is a fabulous analysis of some of the failings of the Democratic party in the 2004 presidential election cycle.

Disclosure: I am a PAC management consultant for Vocus, Inc., which provides grassroots/PAC management software similar to the custom built systems mentioned in this article.

One of hte fundamental precepts of warfare, whether actual combat or political warfare, is that wars are not won in the air. In modern warfare, control of the skies with fighter aircraft and airborne radar can deny the enemy the ability to support ground forces, but that does not mean the enemy is defeated. No, in order to win, you have to have ground troops go in an occupy the enemy's fortress and land, otherwise, when you airplanes leave, you go back to square one.

In politics, the Democrats have long thought that victory meant spending a lot of money on television and radio ads. Such tactics have their place in the world, but you can't just rely on advertising to win modern election. What wins, and the only that that will win over time, is bodies on the ground getting people to the polls.

Terry McAuliffe had, furing his DNC Chairmanship, focused on what he called "Means, Methods, Message, Money and Mobilization." A catchy, alliterative slogan, but one in which he completely failed. The heart of McAuliff's effort lay in the money aspect, at which he was very good. But in the end, if you want to win, you have to get bodies on the ground. The GOP understood this quite sometime ago, perhaps learning the lesson best in 1992, when Bush 41 lost to Clinton.

Grassroots provides all five of McAuliffe's M's:

Means--I am no sure what McAullife meant by this, but to me means are the methods by which you implement strategy. You need to organize a rally--you have the means to do it with a broad group of volunteers and operatives who can make that happen.

Methods--a broad base of ground pounders gives any campaign organziation the ability to tap in to expertise and get things done, things that would ordinarily have to be paid for, like getting people on the ground in Ohio to mobilize voters. Locals are more impressive than imported carpet-baggers.

Message--to be sure the main organization must be responsible for formulating message, but who can disseminate it. In the modern world of instantaneous communication, viral messaging and blogs, ground troops give you and method of exponential distribution of messages--faster than any television ad.

Money--the more people you have on your roles committed to your campaign, the more resources you have for money. End of story.

Mobilization--on the big day, the number of ads you had on television and the number of gross ratings points means nothing if you can't get voters to vote for you. Mobilization is the only way.

Enough said.

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