They just don't get it

Lia — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:02:53 -0500

The fact that you and other bloggers do not receive prompt responses to your postings shows how little the candidates get the social networking principle. They are still back in the 1990s when everyone was going to parties and collecting hundreds of useless business cards. The fact that there are now (unspoken) rules of social networking; the most fundamental being it's all about dialog. The candidates have to show they are listening as much as they show they are talking. Iâ€™m not talking about a cursory â€œthanks for writingâ€, but a thoughtful comment that shows they are actually reading/hearing your message.

lia from luebeck, germany

Author of the media safe 101 page on the Red Tent Blog and the personal yum yum cafe

A Review of Governor Bill Richardson's Presidential Campaign Site

Birdie Jaworski — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:56:52 -0500

All of the major Democratic presidential candidates have developed web 2.0 campaign sites where any interested voter can get scoop in the flavor of her choice. Want to watch Maya Angelou speak on Hillary Clinton? Check out Clinton's site for the YouTube link. Need an Obama '08 t-shirt? Want to party with Edwards?

Blogs are a dime-a-dozen on the new presidential campaign sites. Most of the candidates encourage voters to sign on, to start an action group, to post position statements and endorsements. Today's campaigns have more opportunity for voters to get involved, including the ability to connect with each other and share information and excitement.

As a New Mexican journalist, I have been following Governor Bill Richardson's campaign closely. I've been collecting stories about his life, beliefs, and real actions from the people who know him best, the men and women who live in my state. I signed up for an account at his campaign site so that I could watch the grassroots effort take hold or dwindle.

Like the other candidates, Richardson's site is done up in Red, White and Blue with easy-to-understand link buttons and tabs. The site encourages users to set-up a personal dashboard where you can manage the information you wish to collect and use. You can easily access news bulletins, the campaign's official blog, and an assortment of viral marketing links from YouTube to Facebook. Members are highly encouraged to assist with fund-raising efforts and given the tools to start a personalized web-based donation agency. Donations are met with an automated response from Governor Richardson himself, or at least the campaign writer who covers this sort of thing.

The campaign updates the site multiple times a day - the presentation is always fresh, pertinent, and comprehensive. The site managers include charming touches such as weather reports where Richardson is shaking hands, and blow-by-blow descriptions along with photographs of The Man moving through his adoring crowds. Make no bones about it - the information presented is positive, upbeat, and 100% pro-Richardson. You won't find an objective discussion of any of the Governor's gaffes along the campaign trail. A bit more transparency would be welcome and I know appreciated by persons who have not yet decided which candidate to support. Imagine if you had a candidate who put everything on their site - criticisms, gaffes, positive news, and outlook. This candidate would generate buzz and trust in the Democratic community.

Over the past couple of months, I've watched membership grow in numbers and activity. The site is open to any person who is interested in or supporting Richardson, no matter where they reside. Some of my fellow New Mexicans joined the site, and I watched them post heartfelt declarations of their enchantment of Richardson. Though there is a clear place for comments to be added to any personal blog post, nearly every one of these personal posts sits in the bowels of the site, unrecognized, unloved. I don't understand how a self-professed grassroots campaign doesn't have a team of Greeters who can respond quickly and professionally to each personal blog post. Most of these new bloggers leave the site never to return. Why support a candidate who ignores hard work?

I decided to try my hand at Richardson-site-blogging myself. I quickly added myself to several regional groups and posted a couple of personal blogs describing what it's like living in Richardson country and detailing my interest in interviewing anyone who knows Richardson or who, as a New Mexican, has an opinion on the campaign. I posted my blogs to the general site community and to two groups based in New Mexico.

: crickets :

Now, I'm sure that many of the community blogs are read by other Richardson site members and appreciated in ways the writer doesn't expect, or will ever know, but it is strange, and sad even, not to have any response from the site managers. From what I've heard from group owners, new groups that are formed are not encouraged openly by the campaign staff, nor are they asked if they need assistance growing their group.

Overall, Richardson's site efforts are no better than any of the other candidates' efforts. And to be honest, to win the White House is going to take some extraordinary moves, online and off.

Birdie Jaworski writes and votes in New Mexico and hopes to see more transparency in campaign media in the upcoming months. She blogs at La Pajaro.

Technorati Tags: bill richardson, governor richardson, campaign 08, web 2.0

BlogHer - A Review of Governor Bill Richardson's Presidential Campaign Site - Comments

They just don't get it

A Review of Governor Bill Richardson's Presidential Campaign Site