Audacity I've been reading David Plouffe's The Audacity to Win in which he details the decision making behind the scenes during Barack Obama's remarkable campaign. So far, I've only read through the primary fight, but it's clear that this account is mandatory reading for anyone working in contemporary politics. I've learned more about the guts of a well managed presidential campaign than from any of the other books produced by journalists, because Plouffe writes from the viewpoint of a strategist.
Posted by: Bryce Cullinane in Untagged on
Jan 21, 2010
Posted by: Bryce Cullinane in obama, Grassroots on
Jun 24, 2009
When he announced the formation of Organizing For America, President Obama commented that his viewers, the American people, "built the largest grassroots movement in history." In Iowa he proclaimed "you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do." In Grant Park on November 4th: "I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to--it belongs to you." He made it very clear that his campaign was not his, but the American people's. He created an image of an operation in which he was the mouthpiece of millions.
But this image of a "people led" movement was just that, an image. The truth about the Obama campaign, as far as I can see, it was the most effective "top-down" organization that presidential politics has ever seen. The message was tightly controlled, events were well staged and most moves were part of a grand and well executed strategy. Town halls were not used to hear people as much as to get them to vote and volunteer. Large rallies were not debates about issues, they were about supporting a candidate.
