See Follower, Think Voter:  10 Twitter Tips for Campaigns in 2010

2010 promises to be a good year for conservative campaigns both in North Carolina and across the country. Whether you are running a campaign for town council or a statewide Senate campaign, Twitter can play an important role in helping you win.

I’ve compiled ten tips and observations to help conservative campaigns engage conservative voters in 2010. These important (and perhaps obvious) Twitter tips are based on what I’ve seen campaigns do and not do with their Twitter strategies in the past year.

Why Politicians Should Be Social Networking Experts

When you think of the stereotypical image of a politician, what comes to mind?  Shaking hands, kissing babies, meeting, greeting, talking, back-slapping, stumping, out-spoken?  Shy, reserved, and introverted are typically not the words we use to describe politicians.  Why?  Politicians are very SOCIAL and they understand, probably better than most, the power of NETWORKING.

Enter online social networking.  The early adopters were obviously the politicians, right?  Is it because social networking doesn't provide an adequate environment for interaction, or rather, is it because the medium (not the method) has shifted, and politicians are simply slower in adopting new technology? 

I'm Leaving IPDI

December was my last month at IPDI and GWU. I’ve been involved in IPDI since 2003, when I volunteered for my first Politics Online Conference. IPDI was the reason why I decided to go to graduate school at GWU, instead of entering a PhD program elsewhere.

(Back in 2003, IPDI’s director, Carol Darr, taught this awesome grad class on the practical political advice of Machiavelli. It was an incredible class, and Carol is the reason why I started working at IPDI as soon as I finished grad school.)

However, it’s time for me to move on and try new things.

Judge: Gay Marriage Trial Must Go Up on YouTube

The controversial Proposition 8, same-sex marriage ban is back in California courts and this time around the trial proceedings are expected to be broadcast on YouTube.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a California judge ruled earlier today to broadcast the trial thanks to a pilot program approved last month. The program permits the "telecasting of selected nonjury civil trials" and could be a bold move for the government to further open up proceedings to the eyes of its citizens.

13 Ideas to Inspire Your Blog Content

As a blogger have you ever thought, “I don’t know what to write about!” or “How am I going to come up with fresh content for my blog three times a week?”

This article will provide you unique ideas that will help you keep pumping out great content.

The following 13 content ideas are designed to help save you time and stimulate some new ideas.

How the Pickens Plan Recruited 15 Million Volunteers in Nine Months

At a time when so much of the world is in crisis, how can you effectively use online networking tools to rally support and action around your issue?

Since its launch in July 2008, the Pickens Plan, a blueprint to reduce America's foreign oil dependence, has recruited 1.5 million online supporters, built a 200,000 person strong social network (push.pickensplan.com) and produced over 1.1 million emails to Congress and the administration. The campaign won Campaign & Elections' Reed Award for "Best Use of Social Networking Technology" and the AAPC's Pollie Award for "Public Affairs Campaign of the Year."

Democrats Take Web Queries in Virginia Governor's Race

Beginning Friday, Virginia voters will have an opportunity to participate in a unique, multi-platform event by submitting questions online to the three Democrats running for governor.

As part of a program sponsored by ABC 7/WJLA-TV, POLITICO, Google and YouTube, the three candidates — R. Creigh Deeds, Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe — will field questions from the web as well as from ABC 7 anchor Leon Harris and POLITICO Editor-in-Chief John F. Harris.

Website Review: ChuckSchumer.com

A friend passed along an e-mail from ChuckSchumer.com touting their new website. Since I always like to peruse new sites and see what they've done, I quickly clicked through. Since I used to do reviews for TP and PDF regularly, I may as well share my thoughts.

Prop 8 Adventures in Instant Mobile Organizing

Simply text the word "rally" and your zip code to 27336 -- CREDO on letter-indicated touchpads -- and in seconds out spits the details on local anti-Prop 8 events in your neighborhood. In practice, it's seamless. I texted in my New York City zip code, and in an instant got back the SMS message: "Prop 8 Rally in NYC Tues@6p. Meet @ Christopher Street & 7th Avenue" -- directly in front of the historic Stonewall bar.

A Rifle in One Hand, a Laptop in the Other

A RIFLE IN ONE HAND, A LAPTOP IN THE OTHER: The Christian Science Monitor interviews some gunbloggers [at the NRA Convention]. Money quote:

But here’s the real news: In the press box, bloggers outnumbered national reporters by a good margin. And officially, nearly 50 bloggers — compared to 100 mainstream print journalists — were accredited by the NRA press office to attend the 138th annual convention.

5 of the Best iPhone Apps for Political Junkies

Are you a political junkie? Did you follow the US elections with trepidation and excitement? Or perhaps you’re following international politics?

Whatever your political persuasion or level of engagement, there are now plenty of great iPhone apps that put politics in your pocket.

According to Twitter, Prop 8 Was Overturned Before it Existed

There’s an interesting trending topic on Twitter right now: Prop 8. Thousands of people are retweeting that the California ballot measure which restricted same-sex marriage has been overturned. The only problem? It hasn’t been.

What’s happening is that everyone is retweeting the message with a link to an article in the LA Times saying that the gay marriage ban has been overturned. But those people aren’t looking at the date of the article. It was published a year ago, on May 16, 2008. Prop 8 passed in November 2008, so unless we’re in some kind of Lost-style time warp, nothing has changed.