Dude, It's Bigger Than MySpace!

The Republican National Committee set up MyGOP as a next-generation social networking and team leading site. This was going to be the Republican entryway into the small-dollar donation phenomenon that has fueled the rise of the progressive blogosphere. They announced a May 22 fundraising date where their grassroots supporters could set up house parties to raise money for the RNC. The top 5 fundraisers would win, no lie, a "special Republican edition" iPod. (no songs with the words "gay" or "Constitution" will load on it)

Well, they had their event. And right now on the MyGOP page they list the top 5 fundraisers.

1. GOP Bloggers
$498 raised

2. Brian Bridgeforth
VA
$426 raised

3. Melissa Nolen
Davie FL
$150 raised

4. Hank Gill
Tampa FL
$100 raised

5. Matthew Larvick
Vancouver WA
$50 raised

If you consider that the retail price of an iPod is about $300, the RNC lost about $200 bucks on the event. However, there was a fine print that "only people who get more than 10 contributions will receive an iPod." So they only have to give 2 of them out; only the top two crossed that threshold.

The saddest part is that the guy in the number 2 slot, Brian Bridgeforth, lists 194 "team members," which I believe is analogous to "friends" on MySpace. Which means that his fundraising effort averages out to about $2 a person.

Now, the Republican Party probably doesn't need the small donor money the way the DNC needs it. But they wouldn't have gone to all the trouble of building this networking tool if they didn't understand that people-powered movements online are the way of the future. And this pathetic performance just cements in my mind that the Republicans are FAR, FAR behind when it comes to raising money online. The right blogosphere is a message machine... OK, a whine and bitch machine. The left blogosphere is part of a progressive movement, and it doesn't stop with the typing.

By the way you can STILL set up a house party for May 22. They're a week and a half late in taking the promotion down.