Internet Army Could Power Obama Presidency

Barack Obama hadn’t even given his victory speech when the message went out to supporters: “We have a lot to do,” the email read. “I’ll be in touch.” Obama won’t disband his digitally organized army of volunteers, McClatchy reports. Joe Trippi, who designed Obama’s social-networking machine, thinks Obama will use his net-roots might to overcome congressional resistance to change, forging “one of the most powerful presidencies in American history.” 

Obama has collected detailed information about his supporters; he knows where they live, which issues they’re most interested in, how active they are. Trippi foresees Obama prodding his minions to pressure individual congressmen who resist favored programs. “Basically, it’ll be the president and the people united,” with lawmakers in between, he says, “which won’t be a very comfortable place” for Congress. (More Barack Obama stories.)