New Contributor, Justin Talbot
I want to thank Ann Marie for inviting me to post here periodically. I normally blog at Netizens for Mitt where I track what Romney supporters and the Romney campaign are doing online.
Many people predict that this will be the YouTube election, with Internet video helping attack ads reach a broad audience before candidates have time to respond. We have already seen widely publicized attacks against Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards.
However, I am interested in a different issue. A wide gap has opened between Democrats and Republicans in their use of the Internet. In general, Democrats have embraced the web as a means to talk directly with voters. Sen. Clinton has used Yahoo! Answers and live webcasts on her website to “let the conversation begin.” John Edwards’ website permits visitors to contribute directly to his blog, and quotes and photos from supporters often appear on the main page.
Contrast this with Romney’s home page, generally recognized as the best among Republican candidates. Nowhere on the page does Mitt speak directly to voters and there is no way for voters to talk to the candidate. It feels distinctly like a corporate website.
My guess is that over the course of this campaign, Republican candidates will have to figure out how to incorporate the open, community spirit of the Web 2.0 into their typically well-organized, well-funded campaigns. The candidate who can do so first will have a great advantage. Hopefully it will be Mitt!
Justin
February 2nd, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Welcome Justin,
I also hope Team Romney will lead the pack in better online features.
Nathan
February 2nd, 2007 at 5:39 pm
I think Mitt and his Exploratory committee are doing the right thing in not jumping on the live webcast bandwagon - yet. The idea of a personal “cyber-interaction” between some candidates and supporters can be a two-edged sword. It can be a good thing, but it can also be bad, especially with the rate of negative scrutiny that Mitt has experienced lately as well as the cutthroat opposition out there that can pose as friends in order to sabotage and/or incite Mitt into saying something that can be misinterpreted and eventually used against him, his views and positions.
Knowing how calculated the DNC and others are, especially towards a seemingly formidable candidate like Mitt, I would be careful in treading what seems to be a “minefield of dreams”. I have great confidence in Mitt and those who work with him on the Campaign Committee that they either will adopt such methods in the near future, OR come up with a unique innovation of their own to interact with the voters.
February 2nd, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Ken,
You have an interesting point. There are those that lie in wait to trip up and confound candidates, yet I wonder if shielding a candidate from the voters is the correct strategy. Mitt needs more name recognition and people need to get to know him. It’s best for problems to come up now and not in the middle of debates etc. The minefield you worry about now is what I would call a dress rehearsal.
February 2nd, 2007 at 7:24 pm
I think you really need to hand it to the Clinton people. I think they have put out a great web site. In contrasting Romney’s and Clinton’s sites it seems that Romney’s site is less personal and more stand-offish than Clinton’s. I like the immediate and large link to a video rather than to an impersonal news story or press release that you find at Romney’s site. Clinton also has the links to the story’s but they play a secondary role to the video clip.
I think Romney and his team are missing a great opportunity to show portray Romney in this sort of light and I would recommend doing something similar. In doing this they could link it to the Mitt TV concept and it should flow well.
I’m not sure strategically how or when this change could take place. But at least put SOME links to video. Why not put something like they have the “featured stores” label except it says Latest on Mitt TV. Then they could put on the other side of the page the featured stories. They currently have the big picture of Mitt Talking anyway. It might as well be a link to a video.
Rambled long enough…Thanks for reading.
February 2nd, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Being a 30 something I totally agree! Mitt needs to open communication sooner than later! He needs to stress his environmental positions and highlight youth! If he is going to win the “Mommy” vote he needs to diversify and make a mom friendly site.
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:48 pm
With family and good friends deeply entrenched in securing our country, I receive messages that will never make it to the big media outlets.
One thing I have noticed is that Mitt first communicates with our men in uniform and second he deeply understands the depth of the fight we are in.
I believe Mitt Romney, among all the other issues (which he will continue to be right on), will win this electon based upon two main issues.
1. Our security
2. Immigration
In very short order, immigration will come back in full swing. Mitt has set a deep foundation in his website statements. These foundational statements will be easily built upon. His background and experience of the border will be a winning ticket.
I focus on the messages coming from soldiers, Iraqis, contractors and agents on the ground in Iraq. It’s a great thing to see their words meshing with Mitt’s proclamation to the world.http://statesmanmitt2008.blogspot.com/
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:19 pm
You know it’s funny how Hillary’s team painted Romney after his comments about her views on Iran… But then some democrats doen’t like Hillary because they see HER as a flip flopper on the Iraq war. I like how it says she listened to Iraq protesters and then had them arrested. This coming from a democrat.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_lila_gar_070202_when_is_a_democrat_n.htm
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Ok so i don’t know how to get that URL working but the article is written by Lila Garrett and it’s called “When is a Democrat NOT a Democrat? When She’s Hillary Clinton!”
also note:
Lila Garrett is an Emmy Award winning writer and host of KPFK Pacifica Radio talk show, “Connect The Dots”
February 3rd, 2007 at 9:27 am
Does anyone know if Mitt reads the comments or post on this blog?