ALGOP introduces text message alerts

By Jennifer J. Foster

Published: September 19, 2008

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Barack Obama has some fans in a surprising place.

They don’t think much of his policies, but officials at the Alabama Republican Party are taking a page right out of the Obama playbook, announcing earlier this week that they are setting up a text message database to send “alerts/updates to all of those who want to keep up with the GOP in Alabama.“

“This feature will enable us to send instant alerts, announcements and important information to all of our supporters,“ ALGOP communications director Philip Bryan said in an e-mail inviting people to sign up.

Obama was the first to harness the power of text messaging as a voter outreach tool, debuting it last month in the hysteria leading up to Obama’s announcement of his vice presidential selection. Of course, the dissemination of the VP pick was the least of the activities for which the Obama campaign will use the database, as I covered here back then:

Not only is Obama continuing his record of taking advantage of modern technology to fuel his campaign and the hype surrounding it; he’s using this information to put together an entirely new database of people who can be contacted on a moment’s notice.

True, the signees will include people who aren’t necessarily supporters. But most of them will be. And that will come in mighty handy as the general election campaign heats up and the attacks between Obama and McCain intensify. Obama can—and will!—use the text message database to reach supporters to spread the campaign’s message of the day, refute anything John McCain says and even remind people to vote on Election Day.

Don’t think it will make a difference?

Ask yourself: How much do you think John Kerry would have given for a database that offered quick-strike, instant rebuttal capability—especially once the Swift Boat Veterans took to the airwaves in 2004?

Apparently, folks at ALGOP see these advantages and don’t want to be left out.

Bryan provided these opt-in instructions for those who are interested:

If you wish to be a part of this program, you can register (opt in) through one of the 2 methods below:

1) Text “ALGOP” to number 79704 on your cell phone (you will then receive a reply with further instructions)

Or

2) On your computer, go to this link -  http://www.moptin.com/?ALGOP – and follow the instructions (once complete you will receive a confirmation text)

Standard text messaging rates will apply.