The internet campaign that won

February 18, 2004 9:24 AM

The "internet-based" campaign that won. Nickolas bought ads on 11 mostly left-leaning blogs, including Daily Kos, Political Wire and Eschaton, planning to make up the money out of his own salary if the ads didn't pay for themselves. He needn't have worried. By the end of the day, the campaign had made back its money and then some. The following Monday, Nickolas showed Chandler 65 e-mails that had piled up since the previous night. "I said, 'Oh my god, these are all contributions,'" Nickolas remembered saying to Chandler. "And he said, 'Since when?' and I said, 'Since last night.' He was in disbelief that people around the country would care about this race."
posted by skallas (3 comments total)

It is great that new ways to raise money are being found, but before everyone crediting the Internet with Ben Chandler's win, lets remember his biggest ace in the hole. Chandler had state wide name ID, as he had just run for Governor and lost, before that was Attorney General of Kentucky for nearly a decade, and was State Auditor before that. In a special election, which is a shortened campaign, that is a big boost.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 10:14 AM on February 18, 2004

I find it funny that his rival basically ran on a "i support the president 100%" platform, and got her ass kicked for it. First itme in decases that a democrat has taken a republican seat in a special election, too. Nice work, and hopefully a sign of things to come.
posted by Space Coyote at 3:02 PM on February 18, 2004

Ad space on a blog is worth money?? I have always been puzzled by blogs, now I am even more puzzled. Actually I am puzzled by the entire internet to be honest. Puzzled! That's me all over!
posted by chrid at 4:49 PM on February 18, 2004