At the "Big Tent" outside the DNC perimeter, MyBarackObama administrator and former Facebook employee Chris Hughes held a chat with online activists about the role of social networking in the Obama campaign.
Social Networking Vital to Obama Campaign
by Eric Pfeiffer, CQ Politics Blogger
Hughes said the top priority of the Obama campaign's online operation is to provide the tools to help online supporters translate their political passion into real world results. "It was clear the campaign was going to value empowering grassroots activists," he said of his decision to leave Facebook for the Obama campaign back in February, 2007. "I don't think I would have left work for any other candidate."
And there's strong evidence to support his lofty goals. So far, more than 1.3 million users are connected to Obama Facebook page, with hundreds of local groups from across the country. "20 people at a small school can be a lot," he said of convincing small groups of people to get involved in the process.
Hughes was asked to compare the Obama online operation to that of the John McCain campaign. Rather than go with the conventional wisdom that McCain and Republicans simply "don't get" the Internet, he said, "It's much more about how we value grassroots support.. It's not that our tools are that much slicker or better. Sure, the tech has to be good, but it has to work."
Looking forward, Hughes said more than 10,000 campaign-organized house parties are scheduled for tomorrow night's nomination acceptance speech. As part of the ongoing effort to familiarize Americans with Obama, Hughes said every house party have been mailed an Obama biography DVD.
Over the following weekend the campaign will help coordinate grassroots efforts, including voter registration and showing supporters how to sign up for absentee ballots.
And there will be additional incentives for those who organize and raise money online for the Obama campaign. Hughes said that those who establish and meet online fundraising goals get to participate in a conference call with Obama.
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