Mobile technologies revolutionize presidential campaigns

Mobile technologies, such as cell phones and BlackBerries, have had a powerful role throughout the campaign season, and promise to exert an even greater influence in future elections.

“We all know that famous and recent text message that went out to 3 million supporters of the Barack Obama campaign in his announcement of Senator Joe Biden as his running mate,” said Chairman of Mobile Future Jonathan Spalter.

“In many ways this is really just the tip of the wireless iceberg.”

One important aspect of mobile technologies’ rising influence has been the use of text messages. Text messaging is now used more often than cell phone calls and has proved to be an ideal tool for campaigning since it can attract more voters using less resources.

“It yields a result at an incredibly low cost. In this case the cost per vote was $1.62 and the cost per contact was $0.13. That includes the cost of the application and the cost of sending a text message. Whereas, if you look at the next best way to get people out, that’s thirty dollars a vote and that’s going door to door,” said founder and CEO of Mobile Commons.

Along with text messaging, mobile applications are predicted to have more of an impact within the following years.

“I think text messaging is huge, but I think where it’s going, especially in 2010 and 2012, is going to be mobile applications. Using Twitter, using Qik, or Kyte, or any of your mobile live stream devices to really interact with people and voters…I think that’s how campaigns are going to evolve,” said Director in the Online Services Division for DCI Group and former Deputy eCampaign Director for Rudy Giuliani Katie Harbath.

Evidence of mobile applications’ strong political impact has been seen in recent months. When Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca.) called for a recess in August, House Republicans stayed behind to discuss energy. The microphones and C-SPAN cameras were cut, and one of the few sources of information sent from the House floor was from Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) use of Twitter.

According to National Field Director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Casey O’Shea, this shows that there can be government applications to the technology in addition to their campaign use.

“The ability for a member of Congress to communicate directly to their constituents, to bypass the mainstream media filter, and speak directly to someone is a very valuable thing in terms of getting a message out about an important vote or trying to contact constituents,” said O’shea