Text Messaging could help Obama's turnout

Yahoo News / AP ^ | August 20, 2008 | Ken Thomas

[no dems]

WASHINGTON - When Barack Obama announces his choice for vice president, the real payoff may come during the next few months — one text message at a time.

Obama's campaign plans to break the news of the Democratic candidate's vice presidential pick to people who have signed up to receive e-mails and text messages from the campaign. It should give Obama's team access to tens of thousands of cell phone numbers that could be used to mobilize voters under 30 on Election Day.

"What Obama is creating is this army of individuals, these grass-roots activists, who are out there trying to change the world in 160 characters or less,"....

[no dems]

O.K., all you high-tech FReepers; someone needs to get the word to Mac that his campaign needs to "step it up" in the technology department. We can win this election at the grass root with the internet and other technological availabilities.

Mac has already admitted that he doesn't even know how to check e-mail, that his wife "handles" all of that for him. Hope his staff is on top of this.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Dude. Free beer. Come vote.”

Yep, that’ll do it! ;)

[Huck]

This is actually a smart tactic by the Obama team, getting the cell phone numbers. Heck, that’s their base. You are right that McCain should try to get on it. Then again, I’m not sure that’s his audience. Not to write it off, I’m just sayin’. The youngins who do vote and care about txt msgs will prolly be voting for O.

[RexBeach]

Not only that, but I’m sure a lot of the people who signed up for the BIG announcement are Republicans who are just curious.

My wife did. What a riot.

[edzo4]

if the economy is so bad how can they all afford cell phones.

[Sgt_Schultze]

I wonder what hOlyman’s army would think about their saviOr if they knew he will be reviving the draft (women included).

[no dems]

Allison Dale, a University of Michigan graduate student who has studied the impact of text messages on voting, said Obama's campaign was shrewd to give prospective voters a juicy piece of information — the vice presidential pick — in exchange for their cell phone number.

I guess Obama was serious when he said yesterday that he was NOT going to lose this election and John McCain doesn't know who he's dealing with. SCARY!!!

[ken21]

lol!

i’m sure republicans have computers and cell phones.

the idea that the president of the u.s. should be text messaging and surfing the internet is stupid. that’s what his assistants are for.

[AU72]

The problem is the text message junkies would rather text message than go out and canvass nursing homes looking for voters who need a ride to the polls.

[not2worry]

Well according to this morning’s polls, some of those younins calls are going to be dropped.

It could back-fire if the 18-29 group turns to McCain. At least they will be reminded to vote but maybe not for who Obama was hoping for.

[no dems]

It’s all about your “values system”. How can a ghetto kid, whose single mom is on Welfare, afford a $200 Raiders Jacket and $120 Michael Jordan tennis shoes?

[Joe 6-pack]

"if the economy is so bad how can they all afford cell phones."

Because in the case of the democrat party, talk is cheap.

[Huck]

Obama's campaign was shrewd to give prospective voters a juicy piece of information — the vice presidential pick — in exchange for their cell phone number.

It's a smart move. These are the young voters who usually don't turn out as well as they poll. So yeah, they offer up something to get the cell number, and then they can give them a txt msg on election day and nag them about voting. These youngsters need a verbal prompt to vote. It's not enough to make or break, but it's a good play by the Obama team.

[no dems]

If there is a documented source proving that B. Hussein will even consider reviving the draft, it would cost him the “yoots” vote. But, I don’t think you will be able to document that.

[Toki]

No way. Is this for his national work force or for the actually milatary?

[nutmeg]

Obama's campaign plans to break the news of the Democratic candidate's vice presidential pick to people who have signed up to receive e-mails and text messages from the campaign. It should give Obama's team access to tens of thousands of cell phone numbers that could be used to mobilize voters under 30 on Election Day.

This is worrisome, IMO. McCain and his staff had better step it up in the tech department, as you say, no dems.

[Biggirl]

Mac would best learn about the computer and the internet from another Mac, that is, the Apple computer. It is the most gentle form of getting computer litterate really fast or crash course version. :)

[no dems]

The problem is the text message junkies would rather text message than go out and canvass nursing homes looking for voters who need a ride to the polls.

Or go out and work the streets of Madison, WI giving out packs of cigarettes to homeless people to get them to vote like a "good Democrat" would do.

[nutmeg]

It's a smart move. These are the young voters who usually don't turn out as well as they poll. So yeah, they offer up something to get the cell number, and then they can give them a txt msg on election day and nag them about voting. These youngsters need a verbal prompt to vote. It's not enough to make or break, but it's a good play by the Obama team.

Yup, very smart... and worrisome for our side. McCain and his staff had better get with it and do the same, IMO... McCain goes around almost bragging about how he barely understands how to check his e-mails. He "has his wife do it". Sheesh...

[Biggirl]

Considering the history of the youth vote, if they even bother to show up to vote for the “O” man.