Google ads target online voters standing in line
(CNN) – Voters standing in line at polling places and searching for candidate information on mobile devices are increasingly becoming the target of Google advertisers hoping to pick up every last vote.
Candidates have for years placed ads on Google platforms to attract the attention of searchers. But Tuesday's elections saw a large number of down ballot candidates buying Google mobile ads with the goal of capturing the attention of people waiting on line at the polling stations.
While Google Mobile Ads have existed since 2007, this year candidates could target specific carriers and devices. Since mobile devices have become more sophisticated, users are searching more and more on mobile browsers.
Google spokesperson Rebecca Ginsberg told CNN that this is the first election cycle in which candidates are adopting mobile ads in large numbers, but could not comment on specific numbers except to say that over the past two years Google's mobile search volumes have grown by 500 percent.
Democrats using old social networking standby: The phone
Washington (CNN) – While new media tools such as Facebook and Twitter propelled Democrats to success during the 2008 campaign, Organizing for America is relying on a vintage technology this election cycle: the telephone.
OFA, the grassroots structure that grew out of President Obama’s presidential run that was folded into the Democratic National Committee, has partnered with MaestroConference, a social conferencing platform, to host 5,200 conference calls since March 2009, CNN has learned.
While conference calls are not a new organizational tool, OFA is utilizing new technology to make the phone a relevant political tool once again.
So what’s new?
Gillibrand attends the BlogHer conference, stresses organization
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/08/07/art.gillibrand.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand meeting with bloggers at the BlogHer conference."]New York (CNN) – Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand met with a group of 25 of the web's top female political bloggers Friday evening as part of the BlogHer Conference, a two-day gathering of 2,400 female bloggers.
The freshman New York Democrat, one of Washington's most web-savvy politicians, used the appearance to press other women to run for office, a rallying cry heard throughout the conference.
“We need you,” Gillibrand told the bloggers. “You don’t have to be afraid [of politics] just because it is a blood sport.”
A frequent blog contributor herself, Gillibrand discussed her experience in the Senate, and specifically the fight against the Stupak amendment – a crucial sticking point for liberal Democrats that turned the debate over health care reform legislation on its head. Gillibrand expressed surprise at the lack of grassroots coordination from women to protest the amendment and pointed to the debate as one where women could have been better organized, and more effective.
Location social network Gowalla launches campaign tool kit
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/08/02/gowalla.elections.stamps.jpg
caption ="Gowalla stamps which can be obtained when checking into a political rally or event."](CNN) – Political candidates crisscrossing their districts and states will be able to check in Wednesday morning for the first time on Gowalla, a location based social network that shares with followers a user's location when they "check in" on a smart phone.
Independent Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, Republican Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, and Arizona Republican congressional candidate Jim Ward are the first to sign up for a new set of tools Gowalla has designed specifically for the campaign trail.
"An interesting historical record emerges when candidates are actively checking in at town halls, campaign events or dinners to shake hands," CEO and co-founder of Gowalla Josh Williams told CNN. "There is definitely an authenticity that comes with that."
The new features will allow campaigns to create events on Gowalla that supporters can check in to and receive a campaign stamp with the candidate's logo. Usually when a user checks into a location, they receive a generic stamp for their virtual passport.
White House taps young entrepreneurs to get things done
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/28/whitehouse.entrepreneurs.jpg caption ="Young entrepreneurs meeting at the White House."]Washington (CNN) – Senior White House officials huddled Tuesday with a group of tech-savvy, hyper-connected "Generation Y" and "millennial" leaders, CNN has learned.
The day-long meeting was with 70 young entrepreneurs, entertainers, philanthropists and local leaders between the ages of 18 and 35.
"It's all about networks," said attendee Mike Del Ponte, the Founder & CEO of Sparkseed which funds college students who have ideas for start-ups intended to improve society. "Legislation can take years, but the next-gen leaders who met at the White House can move mountains with a quick phone call, or even a tweet."
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AOL launches political advertising service
(CNN) – Political campaigns and advocacy groups can now easily advertise on AOL, and other online platforms, thanks to a new political advertising hub the company launched Thursday.
The new site acts as a one-stop shop for campaigns to built and place "display ads," which are commonly thought of as "banner ads."
The hub allows advertisers to directly target their ads to specific AOL owned properties, such as PoliticsDaily.com or MapQuest.com.
Gen. Casey: America may be in Iraq and Afghanistan for another decade
(Updates with additional quotes)
Aspen, Colorado (CNN) - The United States may still be in the Afghanistan and Iraq region for another ten years, according to Gen. George Casey.
“The types of conflict that we are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I think are likely to be fighting here for a decade or so, are focused on the people,” Casey, the army's Chief of Staff, said Friday night at the Aspen Institute's Ideas Festival.
“We are not going to succeed in either place by military means alone. You are only going to succeed when the people perceive there is a government represented by their interests, when there is an economy that can give them a job to support their families, when there are educational systems that can educate their family. All those things are essential to the long term success of the military operation.”
Craigslist founder working with congress on transparency
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/09/art.craignewmark2.michael-brands.jpg caption ="Craigslist founder Craig Newmark (right) at the Aspen Ideas Festival on Thursday."]Aspen, Colorado (CNN) - Craig Newmark, a self-described "nerd," has found a pretty nerdy issue on Capitol Hill and is seeing bipartisan support: transparency in government through technology.
Newmark, who founded the popular website Craigslist, is now the company's customer service representative and a board member of the Sunlight Foundation, which focuses on transparency in government.
"A democracy needs informed citizens to survive, and that requires accurate information on political matters," Newmark told CNN after a discussion on technology and government transparency with America's Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra at the Aspen Ideas Festival.
Holder suggests companies beyond BP are being investigated
Aspen, Colorado (CNN) – Attorney General Eric Holder suggested Thursday that the Justice Department might not only be focused on BP in its Gulf Coast oil spill investigation.
"We opened a criminal investigation but did not indicate what the subject of the investigation was," Holder told CBS News anchor Bob Schieffer at the Aspen Institute's 2010 Aspen Ideas Festival. "There are a variety of entities and a variety of people who are the subjects of that investigation."
"For people to conclude that BP is the focus of this investigation might not be correct," Holder added.
Twitter's D.C. dress code
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/09/art.bizstone6.dan-bayer.jpg caption=" Twitter co-founder Biz Stone (right) bought a suit during his last visit to Washington."]Aspen, Colorado (CNN) - Upstart Twitter recently realized it should make the rounds in Washington, so co-founder Biz Stone did what any Silicon Valley entrepreneur would do: bought a suit.
Stone went to Capitol Hill in late April visiting with staffers and congressman. He talked about his visit Tuesday at the Aspen Ideas Festival responding to a question about the company's involvement in Washington.
"Washington thinks we're like a 10,000 people organization with the Washington office and we're just ignoring them," Stone said.
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