Briefing Paper on Progressive Political Blogs

The blogosphere is a mysterious place to many in politics. Talk about the "netroots" -- and people may look at you like you are from Mars. But that may be about to change.

Strange as it will seem to some, the blog phenomenon is an important trend in politics. So naturally, a think tank commissioned a report. Fortunately, they hired two pioneering progressive political bloggers, Chris Bowers and Matt Stoller to produce it. For candidates and political operatives at all levels, Emergence of the Progressive Blogosphere: A New Force in American Politics is must-reading. Fortunately there is still some beach reading time left in the season. This is especially fortunate for political consultants and campaign managers who are now going to have to scramble to pretend that they are ahead of (or at least not behind) the curve on this.

The report is going to further catalyze a trend that was already well underway: progressive political bloggers will be a significant factor in the 2006 elections at all levels, in many parts of the country.

Sco offers an MA political blogger's perspective on the report titled: How To Leverage Local Blogs For Dummies (and Candidates).

And Kos has a post about the report and the importance of local political blogs -- and he has some advice for candidates: "First thing campaigns need to do is read Chris and Matt's report. Do the things recommended in Appendix 1. Us bloggers will take you much more seriously if you do."