Back in 2003, DNC Chairman Howard Dean made headlines for his almost inadvertent success at raising campaign cash online. By the first quarter of that year as he ran to be nominated the Democrats' presidential candidate, he had raised almost $3 million -- not bad for an "outsider," noted a New York Times article a few months later.
This time round, the presidential candidates have more tools, larger media corporations, and more experienced staff at their disposal. They have the potential to not only raise more money, but to be better organized, to communicate more effectively , and to better reach out to the public to awaken them out of their political apathy.
So do the candidates' cadres of passionate supporters.
That's what makes the prospect of the 2008 campaign so exciting.
Individuals have never had as much power as they do now to influence the outcome of elections, and to sway public opinion.
The Personal Democracy Forum in New York has convened a braintrust of speakers on Friday to discuss the impact of new technologies and media on the political process, and it promises to be an exciting day.
I'll be there blogging parts of the event, and would love to meet any readers who might also be there. Please drop me an e-mail at: stirland at gmail dot com if you'd like to say hello!
