Governor Rick Perry’s Get-Out-The-Vote effort utilized every new media tool, even Craigslist. Conservative activist Debra Medina dutifully retweeted every kind word, reiterating her ability to listen to the voters. The Texas Primary reflects the inclusion of new media tools as a staple in campaign strategy.
Understanding the efficiency of new media tools, candidates are tweeting instead of the more traditional avenues of phone calls and yard signs. “Rick Perry, in addition to trying to lure Facebook to Austin, has adopted a popular tactic of Barack Obama’s presidential run, using social media networks to win Tuesday’s GOP Primary. In fact, Perry has shunned any notion of using traditional campaign methods, yard signs, phone calls, etc…Going completely personal and virtual.”
These new media technologies are inexpensive and quick and allow campaigns to reach a far greater number of in-tune voters in near real-time. Campaigns are adjusting to the ability to talk to a voter 5 to 10 times a day as compared to the single touch point of older outreach tools.
As technology advances and society turn to their cell phones and the internet for their information, campaigns must strongly consider the inclusion of social media into their budgets. This is an easy way to great a rewarding bang for your buck. 
In contrast, it is imperative to note that direct mail, telephone calls, radio and TV ads and other traditional campaign tools will continue to reign. Not all voters have immersed themselves in this technological and societal shift, but the number is rapidly growing.
What is your new media strategy for 2010? How much of your budget are you putting into this technological shift?
What might we learn from the Texas March 2, Primary for Governor
My typical morning routine is waking up and driving my boys to school. During that 20 minute roundtrip, we are tuned into our local NPR station WFSU 88.9 where I get an idea of what's ahead for the day in news for the nation, state and of course locally. The morning national news on Wednesday, February 23, was regarding the upcoming March 2 Republica
n Primary for Governor pitting sitting Gov. Rick Perry against US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Tea Party Activist Debra Medina. The topic is two-fold, how do two entrenched politicians say that they are the "outsiders" and what impact do the "Tea Partiers" bring into the mix?
The latest Rasmussen polling of likely Republican primary voters finds Perry leading Hutchinson 48% to 27%, and Medina earning 16% of the vote. Nine percent (9%) of Texas GOP voters remain undecided. What's most interesting about the dynamics of this race is that Perry and Hutchinson have the most baggage to carry since they are currently elected and seen as part of the problem. The negative attacks, as one would expect, are already in full throttle between Perry and Hutchinson. And when they're not attacking one another, their message is what they have done "for and about" Texas, even if meant supporting or voting for populist issues but not necessarily of Republican values and principles. Which begs the question, will those attacks soften Perry and Hutchison leaners and undecides to swing to Medina? If that is to happen, and as the pundits have suggested, that boost would send Medina into a run-off against Perry, therefore setting up a run-off that will invite more questions into defining what type of candidate Republicans will support.
The other curiosity of this race is what will be the impact of the Tea Partiers? Today, Tea Party activists are generally made up of conservative Republicans and Independents (Independents are not necessarily the party itself but would include Non Affiliated Voters), but those not registered as Republicans will not be voting in the Primary. These activists tend to trend against the incumbent of their own party and for to the outsider. Medina has fit herself comfortably in that role.
By this evening, March 2nd, voters will either see a trend of supporting real outsider candidates or more of the same. Time will tell, but would you be willing to support the outsider?
