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5 December 2008

Next steps for the Obama network...

As I wrote about earlier, a fascinating question is what happens to the Obama network now that the campaign is past. The Obama campaign mobilized unprecedented amounts of money and numbers of people. The possibility: that politics in this country will be reorganized around the Internet/living room model of the Obama campaign. The unknown: now that Bush (shortly) will be history, and Obama has made history, how many people will remain engaged? Obviously, it is very much in the interest of Obama to keep the network alive, for his re-election campaign in 2012, to help him govern, and to create an enduring structural advantage for the Democratic party.

In any case, part of what is necessary is to maintain those relationships built during the campaign toward the cause of electing Obama. The e-mail below, sent to Obama's e-mail list, provides hints of the initial steps in this direction:

Exactly one month ago, you made history by giving all Americans a real opportunity for change.

Now it's time to start preparing and working for change in our communities.

On December 13th and 14th, supporters are coming together in every part of the country to reflect on what we've accomplished and plan the future of this movement. Your ideas and feedback will be collected and used to guide this movement in the months and years ahead.

Join your friends and neighbors -- sign up to host or attend a Change is Coming house meeting near you.

Since the election, the challenges we face -- and our responsibility to take action -- have only gotten more urgent.

You can connect with fellow supporters, make progress on the issues you care about, and help shape the future of your community and our country.

Learn what you can do now to support President-elect Obama's agenda for change and continue to make a difference in your community.

Take the first important step by hosting or attending a Change is Coming house meeting. Sign up right now:

http://my.barackobama.com/changeiscoming

To get our country back on track, it will take all of us working together.

Barack and Joe have a clear agenda and an unprecedented opportunity for change. But they can't do it alone.

Will you join us at a house meeting and help plan the next steps for this movement?

Thanks,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

----

A few key ingredients: emphasis the power at the roots ("you made history"); the assertion that the roots will matter ("guide this movement"); and embedding action in those local relationships forged in the campaign.

The $750m question: how many people will show up on the 13th and 14th? You won't see any newspaper stories about this, but it will be an enormously important signal as to the future of American politics.

Posted by David Lazer at December 5, 2008 8:08 AM

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