The Internet is Great, But Don't Forget to Run a Campaign, Too!

Thinking About Media makes the point that it's a mistake for political campaigns to focus on the internet, at the expense of running a traditional campaign:

Every candidiate should launch their campaigns online in some way because a big part of the electorate looks online for some part of their news, or political information. But every campaign, (John) Edwards included, should also have a substantial grass-roots base, a sophisticated media strategy, a good message and some credible policy positions, advertising, and a host of other things. The smart campaigns know this. And when we look back in November 2008 at which candidate was elected as our next President, it will be the one who mixed all those pieces best that wins the day.

In a world where blogging and the internet get a lot of press attention, it is good to remind candidates that they still have to run traditional campaigns, too.