Technology is Changing Everything about Campaigning

I find it interesting the Barack Obama campaign wants to reach out to those of us who don't have a computer.

It's a very smart move. It seems to me that his costs per "prospect" are pretty low. I suspect that over time he'll begin to reach out in progressively more expensive ways.

He started with:
1. Campaign Website designed to build and organize support.
2. Email campaign & updates
3. YouTube & Blogsphere, MySpace
4. Campaign Text Messages
5. And now, Ring tones!

His campaign hasn't gotten to the real spending yet, which include;
5. Mail campaigns
6. Phone calls
7. Radio ads
8. And the HUGE expense, TV advertising

It will be interesting to watch whether all the effort into "new media" will materially alter the traditional TV spend in the campaign. Will it result in more focused spend? Will it result in LESS spend? Could technology make candidacy more accessible to the average American?

And I wonder whether the candidates' websites (win or lose) will be a vehicle to continue the conversation with the American public, once the elections are over.

I hope so.