Obama's Army of E-Mail Backers Gives Him Clout to Sway Congress

By Jonathan D. Salant

Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- The millions of donors who enabled Barack Obama to shatter campaign-fundraising records and build a nationwide network of supporters may also help him rewrite the rules for governing.

Obama finished the presidential race with 13 million names and e-mail addresses, more than 3 million of whom donated what is believed to be more than $700 million to his campaign. That gives him a grassroots organization rivaling any competing interest group, a tool to pressure Congress that no other president has had. The list represents a number equal to 10 percent of those who went to the polls on Nov. 4.

A roster that size would cost around $1.3 million to rent, several consultants said. To Obama, it could be priceless.

``It could be life-changing for American politics,'' said conservative activist Richard Viguerie, a pioneer in using direct mail for political causes. ``It allows Obama to be independent of everybody.''

Obama's collection of e-mail addresses is just one example of how he has used technology to change the way political campaigns are run. He has used his Web site to solicit suggestions, announced his selection of Senator Joe Biden as his running mate through a text message to supporters, and bypassed conventional media by using Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.

`Building Relationships'

``The whole thing has been about building relationships,'' said Joe Rospars, the Obama campaign's director of new media. ``None of that is going to end on Election Day. People are going to be hungry to find a way to make good on all the promises that we've all collectively made to ourselves and to the rest of the country about what we are going to do.''

To be sure, such communication works both ways. Obama backers used the Web to let him know how angry they were that he voted for legislation overhauling U.S. electronic spying and providing immunity for telecommunications companies that aided government wiretapping without warrants.

Just as outside groups that oppose abortion or support stronger environmental protection use their membership to push their concerns, Obama could use his mailing list to prod Congress to keep his priorities atop the agenda.

The last two Democratic presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, ran into a recalcitrant Congress on issues such as energy and health care; should lawmakers balk again, Obama can enlist an online army with just the click of a computer mouse.

Grassroots Support Key

Lobbyists and others who advise clients say grassroots support will be more important than ever if they are to succeed on Capitol Hill.

``The lobbyists in town are experts in their field,'' said veteran Democratic fundraiser Jay Dunn, who is now working for FD, the communications arm of FTI Consulting Inc. ``I don't think you can ever discount the expertise, but it's going to be part of a larger strategy. You can now layer on top of that a much more assertive grassroots community outreach.''

Obama's list gives him a new form of leverage.

``When President Obama says, `21 members of Congress are standing in the way of my health plan,' one out of 10 voting Americans start to go to work on those members of Congress,'' said Democratic consultant Joe Trippi, who ran Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign, the first to make widespread use of the Internet to raise money and organize supporters.

Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, has indicated the president-elect will use the list to generate support for his policies. In an e-mail to supporters touting Obama's economic team, Plouffe wrote, ``You'll be instrumental in generating support to pass legislation that puts America on the road to recovery.''

Cutting Both Ways

While such pressure might help Obama, it might hurt some Democrats in Congress, particularly those who serve in Republican-leaning districts.

Those lawmakers may face the choice of either voting with the president and losing their re-election bids, or voting with their constituents and facing an Internet-fueled insurgent candidate. In the last two elections, voters ousted several northeastern Republicans who supported President George W. Bush and the congressional leadership.

``The group that is most at risk by this are moderate-to- conservative Democrats who are representing districts that are competitive,'' Republican consultant Eddie Mahe said. They will be ``caught between their districts and Obama.''

Besides being used to pressure lawmakers, Obama's e-mail list could also be used to help them.

Beyond Dean

Democrats say the list could be used to fund get-out-the- vote and other grassroots campaigns beyond the efforts that departing party chairman Dean set up in all 50 states.

``Every one of these people represents a potential donation to the Democratic Party to enable the grassroots to be fully funded in ways we've never seen,'' former Democratic National Committee National Chairman Steve Grossman said.

Under federal election law, Obama couldn't share his list with congressional candidates, though he could rent it at market value. He could also raise money for candidates by sending an e- mail to the 13 million members, and the names will give him a head start on funding his re-election in 2012.

``Traditionally, presidents would fly into a district and be the headliner at a fundraiser,'' Democratic consultant Peter Fenn said. ``Now the Obama campaign has this gold mine that can help candidates. There's no better loyalty-building effort than assuring someone has enough money to run their next campaign.''

Trippi said the 13 million names are a floor, not a ceiling. He said he expected the roster to grow by millions more. Obama's transition team, for example, asks visitors to provide their e-mail addresses and ZIP codes for updates.

``It may make him the most powerful president of modern times,'' Trippi said. ``Never before has a president been directly connected to that many Americans.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at jsalant@bloomberg.net .

Last Updated: December 1, 2008 00:01 EST

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