In last weeks Blog post I discussed the Obama Administration’s utilization of social networking and technological applications such as Facebook and Formspring. Micah Sifrey, cofounder of the Personal Democracy Forum, studies the changes in technology that alter the political field in presidential elections. Technology and social networking tools have reshaped the playing field for presidential campaigning. In July, a website that specializes in data mining and analytics software named KDNuggets released an unusual ad in the job listing. The ads text read, "We are looking for Predictive Modeling/Data Mining Scientists and Analysts, at both the senior and junior level, to join our department through November 2012 at our Chicago Headquarters," read the ad. "We are a multi-disciplinary team of statisticians, predictive modelers, data mining experts, mathematicians, software developers, general analysts and organizers - all striving for a single goal: re-electing President Obama.” The KDNuggets advertisement has Republicans such as Alex Lundry, a data-mining expert at TargetPoint Consulting, wondering how technologically equipped the Republican candidates campaigns are.
The Obama Administration periodically updates an “Obama” Facebook page with 23 million followers, which provides Obama’s supporters with detailed reports of his recent schedule and whereabouts. His asdministration also utilizes a social networking application on Facebook called “Obama 2012- Are You In? (Micah Sifry). The application provides the Obama Administration with invaluable information regarding personal information such as the users name, gender, birthday, current city, religion and political views. Staff workers within the Obama Administration are also using a social networking tool known as NationalField. This application allows the staff to connect and post their current assignments and achievements regarding the campaign. Micah Sifrey depicts the applications successful communication between all levels of staff and their progress concerning signing up volunteers, knocking on doors, identifying likely voters and dealing with campaign related issues. Users may also share qualitative information outlining the successful questions asked during face-to-face interactions with potential voters. However, the application differs from open-public social networks because NationalFields adheres to a hierarchial social graph; those with a higher level of clearance are afforded a broader view of their state and local coworkers activity. The Republican Party has been merely focusing on keeping their candidates somewhat involved with social networking applications, whereas Obama’s campaign is developing contemporary “social intelligence” that will allow representatives to connect with potential voters and Obama enthusiasts on a more involved level than ever before.
CNN Reporter Micah Sifrey sums up the Obama Administration’s technologically equipped social networking advantage, “Obama may be struggling in the polls and even losing support among his core boosters, but when it comes to the modern mechanics of identifying, connecting with and mobilizing voters, as well as the challenge of integrating voter information with the complex internal workings of a national campaign, his team is way ahead of the Republican pack.”
Links: Micah Sifrey. http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/09/tech/innovation/obama-data-crunching-election/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
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