John Edwards and Hillary Clinton are both using text messaging to build support for their respective campaigns.  Over the weekend the Edwards camp launched a new website, www.supportthetroopsendthewar.com, and asked supporters to text the word "Iraq" to show their support. The Clinton campaign is using text messaging to update supporters on the latest news from the campaign trail.  Text messaging is just another example of how technology is changing political campaigning.  Cell phones and email addresses are becoming the most useful and efficient means for campaigns to stay in touch with supporters.

Text messaging combined with blogs and social networking sites is giving the 2008 presidential campaigns the ability to create a community of supporters, and within these communities supporters are able to organize rallies, house parties, and other events in their local areas across the nation.  In 2004, Howard Dean was able to recruit massive amount of volunteers, but the technology at the time did not allow the campaign to efficiently mobilize these supporters.  The '08 contenders have learned from the Dean experience, but still struggle to maintain control of this brave new interactive world in politics.

www.supportthetroopsendthewar.com
www.johnedwards.com
www.hillaryclinton.com

Clinton Reaches out to Voters with Text Messages
TLK2UL8R, HILLARY