August 09, 2006
On The Download: This Is Your Captain Speaking
Welcome back to On The Download, your almost-daily dispatch on politechs: Politics, Multimedia and the Internet.
1. Sen. Bill Frist's VOLPAC launched the next phase of its web activist system this week: "iFrist Volunteers 3.0." The portal lets users obtain points by doing tasks online, such as commenting on the blog (one point), contributing (three points for every dollar) or singing up to be an iFrist volunteer (a whopping 100 points). Points will increase your rank, which in turn earns you benefits -- think T-shirts, a consult with the Web team or a pin denoting your rank (either "Organizer," "Captain," or "Leader"). Alright, so it's a little intense even for the blogosphere -- especially given the whole military (or perhaps even Star Trek?) motif. But you have to hand it to PAC that's already starting to train its volunteers -- all 1200 of whom have already signed up for the program according to their internet director -- years before an election.
2. Both PACs from John Edwards and Barbara Boxer released their online poll winners for '06 races within two hours of each other yesterday (but who would coordinate something like that anyway?). Edwards is giving his PAC dollars to and headlining fundraisers for Patty Wetterling running in MN-06 and ex-Rep. Nick Lampson in TX-22, while Boxer is donating to MO Senate candidate Clare McCaskill.
3. PersonalDemocracy.com reports that new political mobile firm MobileElect is doing SMS for Harold Ford's Senate campaign, which according to Ford's Web site, plans to send out at least one text message a day with campaign news. Seem like a little much? Blogger Justin Oberman agrees Mobile Accord is using SMS the best way it can in the given circumstances: frequent reminders of a "call to action" to a campaign's core supporters.
4. Other small bytes: Jim Webb for Senate re-designed its new Web site and launched a new volunteer site, http://bornfighting.com. Missouri Dems are touting an anti-Jim Talent Web ad on FiredUpMissouri.com. Finally, Bob Casey's campaign has released a revised version of their "Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive And Dodge" video of Rick Santorum.
If you have tips, comments, or suggestions, email us.
Posted at 02:47 PM
Comments
either "Organizer," "Captain," or "Leader")
This can't be the Frist organization. There's no 'Junior Kitten Drowner'? 'Supreme Cat-Murderer'? 'Feline Euthanization Organizer'? 'Commander Felidae Killus'?
Fro | 08.09.06 03:42 PM
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John Edwards actually is headlining fund-raisers for Patty Wetterling and Nick Lampson, not just cutting them a check. He's putting in his time and effort to help them (and many other candidates all over the country) raise the money.
Bob Thompson | 08.09.06 03:59 PM
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Just read your comments on Volpac. I am one of the iFrist Volunteers and I can tell you it is a terrific site. It gives us a way to get involved in helping republican candidates across the country, and the hot board is terrific in letting all of the volunteers talk to each other about issues that are important to them. I especially like the point system, because it is fun to have a little friendly competition. Senator Frist and Stephen Smith and Chris Majorana have done a fabulous job with this site.
Ginny Desiderio | 08.09.06 04:10 PM
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i too am a volpac volunteer and find the ifrsit volunteer site extremely informative, easy and fun to travel. the camaraderie among volunteers is exciting.
marilyn | 08.09.06 05:45 PM
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