Part 7: NEWSWEEK's "Secrets of the 2008 Campaign"

http://www.newsweek.com/id/168017

Part 7 is the last chapter in the series, "Secrets of the 2008 Campaign." It gives you a glimpse into the final days of each campaign.

Once side is focused and even keeled, and the other side seems too busy looking back at what they did wrong. I'll let you decide who is who...

One of the more noble things this series has revealed to me is the Obama campaign's decision to not use the political tactic of "walking around money."

"Walking-around money" is an old and somewhat disreputable political practice of dispensing cash to local pols, grass-roots community leaders and preachers to get out the vote on Election Day, particularly in poorer areas inhabited by racial and ethnic minorities. As money changes hands, a certain amount of winking is typically involved; not all of the funds go to, say, hiring drivers or passing out leaflets, and the recipients are not shy about asking. (During the Robert F. Kennedy campaign for president in 1968, Kennedy operatives made sure not to bid up the going rate for walking-around money, or to hand it out too early, lest they have to pay twice.)

Now, I'm not saying the Obama campaign didn't do this at all, but at least they made it a point to not make "walking around money" a catalyst for their grass roots campaign. Instead of bribes, they just used good old fashioned enthusiasm.

Now that's change I can believe in.

So that concludes my summary of NEWSWEEK's "Secrets of the 2008 Campaign." If you have just been relying on my little blurbs, then you are totally missing out. I found the entire series INCREDIBLY interesting and I highly suggest anyone reading this post to go out and read all seven parts.