"You Own This Campaign"

I haven't seen any diaries about Obama's current fundraising effort, in which the Senator is encouraging supporters to donate for the first time or to match the donations of other first time contributors. In the latter case, new donors see the handle and hometown of the person who has matched their donations-- a clever way of pushing supporters to network and create relationships.

I know a lot of people around here are excited about the populism of John Edwards-- and justifiably so. But Obama deserves a lot of credit, I think, for putting the lessons he learned as a community organizer to work in this campaign. For more on that, check out the lengthy profile in the latest issue of New Republic (it's written by their best reporter, Ryan Lizza). Here's a brief excerpt:

Obama connects his past as a Chicago organizer to his presidential bid with surprising ease.... Organizing remained central to Obama long after his stint on the South Side. In the 13 years between Obama's return to Chicago from law school and his Senate campaign, he was deeply involved with the city's constellation of community-organizing groups. He wrote about the subject. He attended organizing seminars. He served on the boards of foundations that support community organizing. He taught Alinsky's concepts and methods in workshops. When he first ran for office in 1996, he pledged to bring the spirit of community organizing to his job in the state Senate.

Edit: for more about this article, check out this diary.

Check out the "You Own This Campaign" fundraising drive at

www.barackobama.com

•  Is Obama learning the Dean/Trippi lesson...

  ...about internet organizing? Is he taking it to another level? Or are there problems with his website/approach?

  Love to hear what people think.

  by jimrice on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 02:48:39 PM PDT

  •  As a user of the website

    I have to say, it's fantastic! I'm a software developer by trade, and I'm usually the first person to gripe about a poorly done website. Some have. But, honestly, I can tell how much has gone into this, and I appreciate the campaign not releasing pieces of the site before they're ready.

    That said, I love Obama's latest fundraising effort - I got an email earlier this week asking me to match donations for someone who has not donated before. I think it will make people who are hesitant just a little less so.

    And I love the other group leaders. I'm helping with Utah for Obama, and I've coordinated with other group leaders, and been involved in a conference call held by an official campaign representative. It was very informative, and so far the campaign has been awesome at getting us the tools we need. I can't believe they've been able to accomplish so much in the month since Obama announced. And I've seen how well they have ironed out the problems that have come up. I'm impressed. :)

    by Misty Fowler on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 03:09:35 PM PDT

•  Obama

  Edwards.  Obama, Edwards.  I can't decide so I'm supporting both for now.  We're so lucky to have such stellar candidates.

  by myrealname on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 02:52:20 PM PDT

•  Obama campaign called last night

  . . . . and I pledged.  Certainly the first time I've ever considered supporting a candidate this early in the game.  Between the phones and the net, he's got his game on.

  by politichic on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 03:06:27 PM PDT

•  Ryan Lizza article

  Where can I read it without subscribing? As it is I subscribe to one too many journals already!

  I might just have to go to the Library!

  by wuod kwatch on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 05:39:54 PM PDT