Site Is First For Statewide Democratic Candidate In Texas
TYLER-The campaign of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hank Gilbert Monday afternoon launched The Scoop the first online rapid response website powered by a Democratic gubernatorial campaign in Texas history.
The site is located at
http://TheScoop.HankGilbert.com.
Although Texas campaigns as far back as Tony Sanchezs 2002 gubernatorial run used the internet for rapid response on a limited basis the Gilbert campaigns launch marks the first website geared toward media rapid response as well as candidate rapid response.
This site is very unique and a first for Texas. I know this is a first for a statewide candidate on the Democratic side and although Texas Republicans have done some online rapid response I believe this is different than anything weve seen from them said Vince Leibowitz Communications and Policy Director for the Gilbert campaign. Using the models developed by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama during the 2008 primary and general election cycles we have developed a site which will allow our campaign to respond quickly to any major stories as they happen Leibowitz said. Through this site well be able to respond quickly not only throughout each news cycle but be able to respond to the actions and activities of Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates so our base of grassroots and netroots supporters are kept abreast of what is happening and our response to that Leibowitz said.
Gone are the days of Bob Bullock where you sent out one or more press releases every day and hope that they get enough earned media that your grassroots supporters are kept informed about what is happening in the race said Campaign Director John Oeffinger. While online rapid response will not replace traditional bricks and mortar press releases and press statements it will enable us to respond rapidly to a much wider variety of stories and to a much wider field of candidates Oeffinger said.
Leibowitz a longtime netroots activist in Texas who owns the popular blog Capitol Annex pointed out that this model is what is needed in Texas and what will work in Texas.
We saw from the 2008 primaries how successful Hillary Clintons online rapid response model was-both through the Fact Hub and then through the Hillarys Rapid Responders website which was unaffiliated with the campaign-in Texas. Were taking the best from both of those worlds plus President Obamas online rapid response during the general election campaign and putting it online in Texas Leibowitz said.
This sets us apart from all of the other Democratic candidates in the field he noted. We are the only campaign doing this and it is long past the time to bring this rapid response model to Texas Leibowitz said.
