Final Blog For Class on 12/21: Comparing the Online Campaings

For our last blog I would like you to take a look at several of the campaign websites for those seeking the office in 2012. You should compare these sites in terms of 1) their style and appearance; 2) what types of information to they offer and what do they emphasize; 3) what tools are available for supporters to use to help the campaigns and how can supporters take action. Keep in mind that while most will ask you for your e mail address you do not need to enter it, you can always click on an option to go directly to the campaign site (though following what the campaigns do might be interesting now that you all love the presidency!) First it will help to take a look at President Obama's campaign site.
Next you should browse through the leading GOP candidates' campaign sites:
Newt Gingrich
Mitt Romney
Ron Paul
Rick Perry
Michelle Bachmann
Rick Santorum
Jon Huntsman

1. Do any of these campaign sites affect how you feel about the candidate?
2. Which campaign(s) seem to be the most pursuasive? Why?
3. What tools or information do you find the most useful/effective for campaigns?

For Class on 12/14: The Electoral College Debate

The bottom image is an Electoral Cartogram showing the electoral votes apportioned to each state as a result of the 2010 Census.


So you know that whole go out and elect the president thing? Well, it's not really that simple. The framers designed the Electoral College, which today is made up of 538 electors who officially elect the president. The process is a bit complicated, but you can take a look at a great explanation here (or a funny one here or, if you're feeling old school you can watch the schoolhouse rock version). There has been a debate growing since the Constitution was written in 1787 about whether the electoral college is the best way to elect a president. The criticism of the electoral college became more pronounced after the controversial election of 2000, which ended in a Supreme Court decision and George W. Bush's first victory (although Al Gore won the popular vote). A great video describing why many believe the electoral college is unfair and should be replaced by the popular vote selecting the president can be seen here. A recent poll found that nearly 75% of Americans believed that the electoral college should be removed and efforts are being made to try to amend the constitution to change or remove it. However there are many practical reasons why the electoral college still works well as explained in chapter 5 of this video debate titled "In Defense of the Electoral College", not to mentions the fears of faction in a direct democracy described by James Madison in Federalist #10. So now its up to you. How should we elect our presidents? Should we keep the electoral college or should we replace it with the popular vote?

For Class on 12/7: The Obama Campaign 2012

While much of the network attention is focused on the battle for the GOP nomination, the Obama campaign has been building on their impressive organizing success of 2008 in preparation for 2012. There is little doubt that the 2008 Obama campaign was arguably the most successful campaign in the history of American politics. In particular the campaign incorporated new technology and social media in a comprehensive and strategic way that provided interactive tools to allow supporters to be active and engaged right from home. Meanwhile it was able to break all records in terms of fundraising. However what may have been lost in the technology hype was the incredible army of volunteers that the campaign organized to go door to door and make phone calls as campaigns have done for decades. Take a look at how the Obama team is preparing for the 2012 campaign. Are there any elements of campaign organizing and strategy that are surprising? What do you think will be the keys to organizing a victorious campaign for 2012?