A Web simulcast presentation by Florida director of the Obama/Biden campaign, Steve Shale, entitled “Use/Impact of Technology on Elections” is being hosted by the College on Thursday, April 16, 2009 from 2:00–3:00 p.m., Room 006, Louis Shores Building. A link for viewing the online presentation will be activated at 1:45 p.m. on the College homepage.
Hired in June 2008, Schale built and directed the largest Presidential political operation in Florida history, with hundreds of paid staff and well over one hundred thousand volunteers. Mr. Schales’s presentation will reflect on how technology, particularly in Obama’s case (but starting back at Dean) has changed the way that campaigns are run, mostly because it has provided a vehicle to allow more people to get involved. Most of what Obama did was use the internet to make it easier for people to engage in the types of activities- making phone calls, writing checks, canvassing, house parties, etc., that are the tried and true ways of winning elections. He will cover:
- using the internet for people to RSVP to go to BO/MO/JB rallies in order to get email addresses and allow for us to follow up
- text messaging as a way of informing–and involving
- targeted programs (voterforchange.com and adoptfive.com) that were specific asks with online tools
- Houdini, which was the attempt to use new technology to track voters on election day. it didn’t necessarily work—but it did change future elections
- how the internet changed election coverage (play by play coverage. polling. more informed activists. etc.)
- ffuture campaigns (replicating Obama very hard, open source campaigning, costs)
About Steve Schale
Steve Schale, 34, was the State Director of the Obama/Biden Florida campaign. Hired in June 2008, Schale built and directed the largest Presidential political operation in Florida history, with hundreds of paid staff and well over one hundred thousand volunteers.
Schale fundamentally changed the way that Democrats run Presidential campaigns in Florida, moving the focus away from the traditionally Democratic counties in South Florida, and putting the spotlight on the politically swing counties in Central Florida and more Republican counties up north, as well as aggressively pursuing the state’s growing and very diverse Hispanic vote. The result on Election Night was a win for Barack Obama, becoming only the third Democrat since 1948 to carry the state, and the first northern Democrat since FDR. Following the campaign, Schale was named one of the one hundred most important Floridians for 2008 by Florida International Magazine.
Prior to joining the Obama team, Schale ran the Florida Democratic Party’s House Democratic Caucus, where working with then House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber, Schale’s efforts led to a gain of nine Republican seats in the state house, the party’s biggest gain in over forty years. Schale has also worked as the Communications Director for the House Democratic Caucus, and as a longtime aide to former House Democratic Leader Doug Wiles.
Schale lives in Tallahassee with his wife Nikole, who is an executive with the American Heart Association, and their two dogs. He is a graduate of the University of the South in Sewanee, TN, where he earned a degree in History and Political Science and played on the golf team, and he is currently pursuing a Masters Degree at Florida State University’s College of Communications. He is also advising Dan Gelber in his bid for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez, as well as several other clients.