CQ: GOP Ramping Up Online Organizing

Congressional Quarterly reports on the GOP's efforts to "Prep the Portals of Online Organizing."

Highlights below:

Republicans already are gearing up to regain lost ground from the 2008 elections, with a plan to level the digital playing field and fight the Democrats precinct by precinct and byte by byte.

That was the overarching theme Feb. 6 at a hastily organized “Tech Summit” held by the Republican National Committee, which brought party activists and strategists together to present ideas on how the RNC can better use available technologies to engage voters.

Under new Chairman Michael Steele, the GOP has embraced new technology as part of its rehabilitation efforts in the wake of the disastrous 2008 election.

Close to 300 people took part, with hundreds more joining online. The summit featured a steady stream of speakers, each sharing their thoughts on everything from online marketing to political text messaging to social networking.

“Bottom line is, if we haven’t done it, let’s do it. If we haven’t thought of it, think about it. If it hasn’t been tried, why not?” Steele asked in a speech that verged on a sermon. The audience at the Capitol Hill Club responded with vigorous nods and occasional murmurs of “Yes!”

“The goal,” said Steele, “of bringing the party into the 21st century is all that and then some.”

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