Here is your first look at Campaign Underground! (BETA)

About a month or so ago, we announced a new project called Campaign Underground, which will be a one-stop source for campaign information, news, and local media contact info.

Many DUers signed on to help out with the massive job of data collection, and you have all done an amazing job filling in our database. But there is still a lot of work to do! We have some states that have no information at all, and other states that are partially finished. And everything will eventually need to be proof-read for errors.

But we are off to a great start! We've already got a great deal of campaign info all in one place. And the local media database, in particular, is going to be a great resource for our members. We are already working on an application that will allow members to "blast" emails to regional media, and print out contact lists for snail mail or telephone.

Over time, we hope to add many more cool things, such as integrated headlines from the DU message board, and special sections for talking points, issue fact sheets, candidate comparisons, and other info.

Here is your first look:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cu

You will see that we need people who can help us fill in remaining information for each state. You don't have to do the entire state, but if lots of people can each collect a little info, we'll be able to fill in all of the empty spaces.

I was thinking that we might be able to use the new state forums as a "home base" for people who want to collect the remaining data. If you are interested in helping collect data for your state, go to your state forum to get organized, or else post in this discussion thread to let us know you're interested. When you are ready to input the new data, contact me so I can give you the link and password to the admin utility.

Thank you so much who has helped out with this project. And a special thanks to Elad, who has been working his tail off on the database. I think this is going to be a great resource for our members!

David Allen
(Skinner)
DU Administrator

:evilgrin:

Thanks. It looks great.
I do notice that some of my data already are out of date -- a couple of new Web sites, that sort of thing. I guess I'll need to go back in and update them.

This is such a great idea! I love it! The design is also very sleek!

Great Job!

I wonder if we can add a "fantasy" electorial vote map so we play with the numbers if different states go red or blue. I have seen it somewhere but I can't provide you a link.

I am really looking forward to using this great tool to motivate our DUer's to get ACTIVE!!

Thanks again for all you do.

I saw one on the John Edwards for president website, but I don't know if it exists anymore.

What a great tool this is/will be.

Thanks! :thumbsup:

:yourock:

Thanks for this!!!

Way to go!

Can't wait to see the finished product!

this is a great resource.

the Kerry campaign needs to know about this.

You guys have done a kick-ass job so far on Campaign Underground. I like it a lot! Thanks admins! :thumbsup: :hi:

DU and its admins and members are to be congratulated--this is truly a great on-line resource!

I have a question about the Senate map. Obviously I know what "Incumbent" means, but about the open seats: that means the incumbent is not running again and it's a race between two new people, right? Then how can an "open seat" be either Dem or Rep? Does that just refer to the party of the last person to occupy it?

I checked it out and it is VERY COOL!!! Someone had a fantastic idea. thanks for doing that!!!!

I'm a designer and appreciate clear graphical communication.

Now I don't have to hunt this info elsewhere.

Good job, you guys. Thanks!

excuse the delay.

fine work, DU.

Let's win this!

Thats really great guys! :thumbsup:
The integrated headlines, will that be conecting to the state forums?

Should be cool if we can get it to work.

Good luck, this is really neat!

:bounce:

If so, do they need help? If not, do you need a volunteer?
Carol

Skinner, sorry to blast someone here personally but I do remember him volunteering ahead of the others, and I've sent a good chunk of info under my other account yet he has been absolutely nonresponsive. I have some free time and I'll take his place temporarily if need be (though someone will have to take over eventually because I can't keep with this regularly).

You can delegate a task to me or whatever if you take this over. Same for PostmanX if he returns from the ether. Just let me know.
Carol

PM me.

Looks fantastic, more sophisticated than I imagined possible!

One thing: for NC, as well as many other states, the number of electoral votes changed from 2000 to 2004. Only the older number is reflected on the CU site...

I especially like the idea of the Media Blaster. I think it will really make a big difference. This will be great resource for us and a HUGE benefit to the campaign. :thumbsup:

It's so nice to open up a well designed site that is easy to load, easy on the eyes, easy to navigate, and not confusing. You can tell you critically took great care when creating this. Thank you.

Thank you to the DUers who have and will volunteer to provide the information this site needs.

I can see where Campaign Underground will be a tool used by many outside of DU.

Thank you Skinner, :yourock: EarlG :yourock: and Elad :yourock: .

Can I still go in and fix errors? I see a typo or two already in California.

Everything looks awesome. You guys did a great job!

We now have an edit function for the admin pages. So it shouldn't be too difficult to fix your typos.

:yourock:

Beautiful! So much more than I could have imagined. THANK YOU!!

I do have a couple of questions about Texas.
So I started this thread >>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=180&topic_id=966&mesg_id=966

Skinner,

If you have a specific area where help is needed for data collection, let me know. I'd be glad to help.

Love the way this is shaping up. Elad's doing a beautiful job and it's going to be a great source for information.

Thank you.
soup

I volunteer. Going to the state forum now.

This is working in the New Jersey Forum and I have another volunteer.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cu/cu.php?az=house_races&state=CO

Down below it shows there are 5 Republican House members, and 2 Dems. However, at the top, and on the state homepage it shows 5D and 2R. The correct figure is 5 Republicans, 2 Democrats.

Thank you.

completing the "Major Media" section?

I would like to help complete Texas. Please don't refer me to the person "in charge" of Texas. If she is the only one allowed to work on this, I'll have to pass.

1. Does every state now have a person/team working on the information, or is help still needed?

2. The e-form issue - Some of the news outlets only provide an online form for feedback/ letters to the editor. The URLs for the e-forms are showing up as an e-mail address in the CU.

example here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/cu/cu.php?az=detail&state=MO&id=1215

When e-mail is clicked, the e-mail program opens and places the URL into the 'send-to' area. Is there any way around this? or maybe there needs to be an additional line to direct people to the page containing the e-form?

Thanks in advance.

soup

edit to try to make a little more sense

Are you going to provide information on which states/counties are using suspect e-voting machines?