NewsHour with Jim Lehrer Tues --- Subject: Dean's Use of the Internet

[Khephra]

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* MEDIA WATCH ALERT
* An E-mail Service of The
* and the Online NewsHour
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AUGUST 5, 2003
*INTERNET POWER SURGE

Former Vermont governor Howard Dean calls his presidential bid
the "people-powered campaign." While that may sound like old-
fashioned populism, the contemporary element fueling Dean's
unexpectedly successful outreach effort is the Internet.

Through the Web site "Meetup.com," Dean's campaign organizes monthly
meetings to help attract potential voters for the upcoming
Democratic primary. These "Smart Mobs," as they are called, gather
at designated places where organizers rally grassroots support for
Dean.

By virtue of his online organizing and fundraising, Dean has gained
national attention -- much to the surprise of many political
pundits. Yet, as Dean raised more money than any other Democratic
candidate in the second quarter, Internet primary campaigns appear
to pay off financially.

Tonight, NewsHour Media Correspondent Terence Smith examines Dean's
success at building grassroots support in cyberspace, and how other
presidential candidates are using the Internet to their advantage.

Visit http://www.pbs.org/newshour/media after 9 pm Eastern time for
more information on this segment.

[Mz Pip]

1. There might also

be something on about the Draft Clark Internet movement as well.

MzPip
:dem:

[jpgray]

2. His success has more to do with being politically smart than the internet

After all, the same online tools are available to the other candidates. Dean didn't get attention because he had the coolest website--his politics begat the organization.

I've heard a similar line before, and it sounds almost condescending to me: as though Lieberman could have similar success online if he just had Dean's internet skills, or that Dean is where he is through some cynical manipulation of the internet and not good politics. Oh well. Can't argue with the premise--he is using the internet very effectively.

[Cha]

3. I know! You know how these reporters are. The same thing

was said about Joe Trippi being such an amazing political genius but one of our DUer's pointed out that he wouldn't be anywhere without a Great candidate! :kick:

[Cha]

4. Added thought. The only one who can make a silk purse out

of a sow's ear is that lyin' kkkarl rove.

[NashVegas]

5. Who Says Internet-Smart and People-Smart are Mutually Exclusive?

Communication is communication. And it's a politician's best friend.

[jpgray]

6. I agree (nt)

[DinahMoeHum]

7. Be careful here. The biggest challenge for Dean's people is to

communicate with those people who do NOT have computers or access to them or to the Internet.

Remember what happened to Thomas Dewey, Republican in 1948. Telephone polls projected him as the winner of the 1948 Presidential election. Problem was, many people in the country did not have telephones in their homes; and they were the ones who voted for Harry Truman.

Anyway, looks like Dean is sticking it to the Texas Repukes with his TV ads down there. That's one area where you start to communicate with the computer-less folks.

:kick:

[mandyky]

8. Dean's folks discuss things at MeetUps about

reaching folks not online, doing tabling, flyering and other events to get the word out to people without computer access. This month we'll be writing letters to undecided New Hampshirites, like we did last month to Iowans.