I'm quoted in an article in the USA Today on Fred Thompson's ability to raise online money. Here's the quote:

Thompson's plans for extensive Internet outreach give him the potential to move beyond the traditional GOP fundraising base, online experts say. "He has more of an Internet presence than any announced candidate," said David All, a GOP online strategist. "There's a heck of a lot more donors who can give $5 or $10 on the Internet than those who can give $2,300."

$5 or $10 may not sound like a lot, but when we're talking about hundreds of thousands of movement Republicans chipping in small sums, monthly, it'll add up quickly, and if done correctly, virally.

Barack Obama has a similar strategy and has been able to effectively tap in to the Long Tail of political fundraising by looking beyond President Bush's top-down, "Pioneer" fundraising pyramid and identifying those supporters who want to give - but can't afford the $2,300 donation which is typically coupled with a framed photograph signed by a machine. Barack has 50K more donors than his closest competitor.

Now, I'm not arguing that tapping key donors won't be a crucial element for a campaign. It is. And you better believe that a majority of a candidates time will be spent courting those individuals.

But this is a Primary Election and I can almost guarantee that those donors who give to other candidates will likely support whoever the Republican nominee winds up being.

So the real unearthed money is in the Long Tail.

To tap in to the Long Tail, identify the people who will give you $10-$20 a month. This process can and should be done through traditional means - phones, direct mail, etc. - but it should also happen online through socnets and popular hangouts.

Those supporters who give $10-$20 are not just young people, but many others who have likely never given money to support a campaign. Once they give once, let them know that it matters to you. Respond in kind with a personal note, a comment on their myspace page, or a facebook poke. They'll probably give to you again if they had a pleasant experience and feel that they actually matter to you.

And just think about the young people giving for the first time. A college student in Ohio gives money - for the first time - to a Presidential candidate. That individual will tell everyone they know - including their friends, parents, and grandparents - and they'll be a committed volunteer for the remainder of the election.

Why? Because they now own a piece of the machine.

When it comes to campaigning, my philosophy is simple: Every vote counts. Every dollar counts. Every supporter counts.