Political Recruiting Hits Your iPhone
Some iPhone applications are useful (like our client Evernote’s) and some not so much…but one that has certainly caught my eye in the past weeks is the app created by the Obama campaign to drive voter registration, boost morale amongst supporters and even help influence swing voters in key states.
Called “Obama 08“, the application is much more than a simple vehicle for Obama propaganda and regular suggestions to Go vote now!! and Tell your friends!! The most impressive feature is the application’s ability to actually identify who in your address book lives in a swing state (by scanning area codes) and then give the user a quick one-step option to call or text them– presumably with strict instructions of who to vote for, when and where.
The application also showcases any upcoming events in your area (based on the iPhone’s geo-tagging and GPS capabilities) and provides basic talking points on Obama’s values and viewpoints for supporters to quickly counter any conservative-leaning friends…
Yet another example of politics entering the Web 2.0 era, and I can only wonder why the McCain campaign hasn’t been turning the wheels on something similar? Regardless of how you feel about receiving political news on your iPhone (is there ever such a thing as too much?) there is no questioning the appeal of reaching voters through new avenues while further empowering active supporters in what looks to be a close election.
Got any friends in Pennsylvania or Ohio? They may find themselves unusually popular in the coming weeks.