To the backdrop of a Katrina-rebuilding-effort in New Orleans, today John Edwards pre-announced his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. While the initial broadcast had a few technological bells and whistles like a cross-posting on YouTube and requests for email addresses, Edwards is officially the first presidential candidate for 2008 to embrace the mobile medium and even mention it in a speech -- in this case a very important announcement. Edwards referred to an organization that he built called OneCorps. As Edwards says in the video (which he encourages everyone to share with their friends) you can join OneCorps by visiting www.johnedwards.com or by texting "Hope to 30644."

While it's pretty cutting edge for him to mention it... texting "Hope" to 30644 simply gets you a message stating

"Thanks for joining our campaign to change America . Please txt us your email. Start changing America at JohnEdwards.com."

In terms of mobile ingenuity there isn't that much to it. Since there is no disclaimer telling you how to opt-out of messages I do not think anymore texts will be sent (although legally by sending your cell phone number they can have it on record (they just can't do much with it). Plpus, the link to "JohnEdwards.com" does not link to a mobile website of any kind... it does not even attempt to link to the Edwards page as a whole (as I imagine a mobile-friendly version has not even been thought of). It's a missed opportunity, but hey, it's just a beginning and that's what consultants like me are for :-).

Nevertheless, it is a milestone event for the entry of mobile technology into mainstream American politics and with Jed Alpert from Rights-Group behind the mobile part of the campaign they certainly are leading the way.

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Technorati Tags: john edwards, mobile, sms, text messaging

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