Maine Gubernatorial Race Goes Mobile
By Justin Oberman
In what I view as the first serious use of mobile technology in an American election (Edwards, Ford and Schwarzenegger have the technology but have really not used it to any great extent), Green Independent candidate for Governor Pat LaMarche has launched a major mobile campaign a week before the election.
Pat has already gained a reputation for technological innovation in Maine for her Online Town Hall and a Website that the Library Of Congress has already designated as a "historic" site worth preserving in the federal archives.
The mobile part of her campaign officially launches today in a very interesting way. As of this morning, students and citizens of Maine will be ask to text the word "Pat" and a topic (example: Pat Health Care) to the shotcode 30644. Later today, Pat will be speaking at the University of Maine in Orono, where her speech will be based on the top three topics that students and Maine citizens send to her via text message. Very interactive, very neat.
Pat also will also be using her skill as a professional radio personality to receive questions via text message in upcoming radio interviews throughout the week.
Of course, sending a topic or question to the shotcode will send a text message back to user asking them to opt in to what the campaign is calling "Pat's Immediate Response Team," the purpose of which is to send out the latest insider news, call to actions, campaign ringtones and tips on how you can help Pat win.
Opting into the text message also signs you up to receive important Get Out The Vote reminders on the day of the election (which will include information on where to go to vote). The text will also ask users to send a text message to at least 5 people reminding them to go vote.
Of course, users can just text the word "Pat" to 30644 if all they want to do is opt in for the Immediate Response Team.
The mobile part of the campaign is aimed mostly at Maine's young voters and, as of the press release last night, they have already had 135 people signed up.
For more, see the Pat Mobile page.
