Hi all, This is not quite the systematic comparison Charles asked for, but I suppose Roh Moo-hyun's victory in Korea's latest presidential elections would qualify as a case where the internet did make a decisive difference (Jenny's bottom line), and also as a cross-cultural illustration of what the internet can do in campaigns. Not reading Korean I have only western press accounts to rely on, but Roh seems to have made the most of ICTs in both getting out information about himself and mobilising his supporters. He had a narrow lead (2.x percent), but he did a good job in winning over the majority of 20- and 30-something voters - who are heavy (and often broadband) users. Ildiko Kaposi
jstromer@albany.edu 07/01/03 17:59 PM >>> The question in 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2002 was "did the Internet make a difference in the campaign?" Now, what "make a difference is" depends. The bottom line for a candidate is, did she win? If she did, did the campaign's use of the Internet contribute to that win?
When McCain made his $2million dollars online after he won the New Hampshire primary, there was serious speculation that McCain's was the first successful Internet campaign. He successfully used the Internet, particularly his website with its secure server connection, to raise a ton of cash in a short period of time. But, McCain didn't win. More importantly, the website served as a mailbox for people to send money after McCain's surprising, exciting win in New Hampshire. If he didn't have a website it would have been harder, I think, for people to have contributed. But, the people contributed because they saw that he might be able to beat Bush and went to the website as a logical place to learn about him and contribute. But, they didn't contribute because they had learned about McCain through the Internet, through their friends sending email messages or forwarding announcements. They weren't mobilized because McCain successfully used the Internet. Now, Howard Dean. I have watched in amazement at the level of use he and his campaign staff and volunteers have made of the Internet--not just a website, not just an email list, but using MeetUp, MoveOn, and a blog to bolster support, get the word out about his positions, rally the troops, organize events, and raise money. I am going to go a little crazy here and declare that Howard Dean's use of the Internet will make a difference to his chance at winning the election. Put another way, the Internet will make a difference this time. I'll also declare (now I'm really out on a limb . . . .) that the Internet could have made a difference in the 2000 election, but none of the presidential candidates were ready or willing to use the Internet to its full organizing potential. Dean and his volunteers and staff are fully utilizing the many channels and reaching multiple audiences on the Internet. It's exciting to watch. (And, it helps that Dean seems to offer a message to which people are really responding.) Best, ~Jenny Stromer-Galley
-----Original Message----- From: air-l-admin@aoir.org [mailto:air-l-admin@aoir.org] On Behalf Of Aldon Hynes Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 10:47 AM To: air-l@aoir.org Subject: Re: [Air-l] democracy and culture
(Full Disclosure: I am an active volunteer in the Dean Campaign)
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Personally, I would love to hear any comments or insights about the Dean's campaign on the Internet from people who have spent more time studying Democracy and Culture.
Aldon
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