Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
CQ Politicis picked up a Sunday Hendersonville Times News story about Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower’s continuing use of e-mail to wage his campaign for congress. CQ Politics cited experts who say it’s largely ineffective. The Hooterville paper quotes a source saying it’s a new world out there:
Here’s a bit:
The Asheville City Council member is running for Congress in Western North Carolina, trying to take the seat occupied by Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville. One of his main tools in the campaign so far has been an e-mail called the “Mumpower E-Express.” In the e-mails, Mumpower gives his analysis and opinion on a variety of topics. Since he announced his candidacy, Mumpower has sent out nearly 50 of the e-mails.
“That is a lot of work,” Mumpower said.
Mumpower said the e-mails are an effective tool for him to reach people. He has 600 to 700 people on the list, and he said the e-mails are forwarded to numerous other individuals.
“I am surprised at where I get e-mails from,” Mumpower said.
He said he is trying to run a campaign on a limited budget and believes electronic technology levels the playing field.
“I made a commitment not to take special interest money,” Mumpower said. “That puts me at a real disadvantage. It put me at a principled place but at a financial disadvantage.”
The topics of Mumpower’s e-mails have ranged from immigration to gun rights. They are part editorials and part position statements.
“This is a new century, calling for new methods, and cyberspace has unlimited, untapped potential for a candidate with a mission and the courage to have an honest voice,” Mumpower wrote when he launched the e-mail aspect of his campaign.
Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean four years ago, and to some extent Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, showed the Internet has changed the political landscape. Howard raised millions of dollars and was the early front runner for the Democratic nomination in 2004, largely because of a devoted following on the Internet. The phenomenon surprised political pundits and launched Dean into the national spotlight.
Henderson County Republican Party Chairman Robert Danos said studies have shown that the majority of voters between the age of 18 and 45 get their news and political information from the Internet. This can be through Web pages, blogs, e-mails and youtube.com videos.
Effective or not, it’s mostly just annoying.
