Democratic Campaigns Play Phone Tag
Add Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to the list of Democratic presidential candidates who want to reach out and touch you -- on your cell phone.
Obama Mobile, a new feature the Obama camp launched Wednesday night, sends text message alerts about campaign news and local Obama events to supporters who sign up.
The service offers anonymity, requiring only a zip code and your mobile digits. The campaign says the first message you will receive is an offer for a free Obama bumper sticker (if you register by June 30).
While the idea of the Obama Mobile is not revolutionary -- John Edwards and Hillary Clinton offer similar services on their sites -- a few aspects are unique.
Obama Mobile users can download campaign-created ringtones, including speeches by the senator and user-submitted hip hop, rock or techno songs. It is not clear whether the smash YouTube hit, "I Got a Crush... On Obama," will be available.
Obama's subscribers can also request instant campaign information via a text message. Clinton's mobile service offers free access to her campaign site via phone, while Edwards's provides e-mail alerts.
Obama New Media Director Joe Rospars says text messaging is "a key tool that helps us reach out to people who rely on their mobile phone service for information." If the number of people attending fundraisers and events goes up, another campaign official explained, the mobile effort will be considered a success.
By Sarah Lovenheim |
June 21, 2007; 2:09 PM ET
| Category:
Barack Obama
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Posted by: KateL | June 21, 2007 04:29 PM
KateL,
uh..then don't sign up for their txt messages
Posted by: Joe | June 22, 2007 04:58 AM
I think it's good politicians are using up to date media to contact us, but what can the citizen use to contact them? Governmental deliberative social networks need to take off so we have a way to contact them- only fair, right?
Posted by: Chad H. | June 26, 2007 09:48 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Leave our cell phones alone! I hope that there is a mobilization of society that says, enough is enough. Cell phones are personal! I have our land lines, you have our email, cell phones - hands off please all political campaigns, leave me something.