Technology and Bloggers Influencing RNC Chair Race

The current race for RNC Chair has been fascinating to watch -- and cover. Though only 168 RNC Members have a vote, the conservative blogosphere has been extremely active in advancing the debate. It used to be this was a somewhat under-covered behind-the-scenes affair. No longer.

I'm quoted in this CNN column on the topic. Here's an excerpt:

... in a sign of how technology already has transformed the fundamental dynamics of the party, each of the six candidates appears to be campaigning as if the job were a popularly elected office -- unveiling sleek Web sites, circulating e-mail pitches to supporters and holding conference calls with members of the media and conservative bloggers.

It's a process political observers note is similar to the one that presaged former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's ascension to the Democratic chairmanship in 2005 -- a tenure marked largely by advances in how that party adopted technology to strengthen its outreach across states where Democrats hadn't been competitive.

"Like in '05, bloggers see this as a symbolic but important step toward taking the party back from the insiders who have been messing things up," Lewis said. "Conservative bloggers are for the first time having a voice and influencing the debate. This has led to more transparency."