Where Does the Data Go?

Campaigns are a snapshot in time. But the information that campaigns capture is highly valuable, and its value lasts well beyond the efforts of any single campaign. Modern campaigns utilize marketing and voter turnout techniques that are premised on access to loads of information. Therefore, continued access to this data is crucial if the Parties don't wish to continuously recreate efforts of the past.

The strategic importance of data continuity should be the placed above all other operational considerations faced by political parties. Data continuity feeds fundraising, maintains structures and volunteer organizations, and provides a foundation for introspective research and polling.

While the Bush campaign leveraged the RNC's data warehouse in 2004, tons of data was gathered by America Coming Together to help turn out the Democratic vote. So what happened to all of ACT's data on November 3rd? They can't simply give it to the DNC, nor can they store it in anticipation of giving it to the campaign of the 2008 contender (or any congressional candidates in the meantime). The current regulatory structure basically leaves an organization such as ACT with two options: fold up the tents and go home, or serve as a GOTV operation for democratic candidates in perpetuity.

ACT isn't going anywhere. For the Democrats, that means a continued challenge to achieve synergy among disparate and legally firewalled groups.