My thoughts on blogs remain equally as strong. Too often they are seen as a secondary community building extra. I see them as a candidate's PR arm and open source press room/war room rolled into one. They drive the candidate's positions into the media, requiring the media to respond to the candidate's position, rather than the other way around.

They are a way to converse with your supporters, and explain yourself to those who stop by and lurk. I can go to a site and read all I want. If a candidate or campaign talks to me, I will return. If a campaign shows it it active and responsive to what is going on in the community, I will be back often. If I come back often, I will buy into the campaign. Once I buy in, I will act. Once I act, I will donate, advocate, recruit, and defuse the other side's attacks.

They are also a way to get the facts out about a candidate and the opposition. Post something that was quoted incorrectly on your blog, and look for the LTE's the next week in the paper.

They are more than just a nice feature of a blog. They are essential to building not only your base, but your public relations plan.

I'm just an average guy who watched the Bears lose every Sunday until a couple years ago. Now I'm heavily involved not only in the Dean campaign that got me started, but in multiple campaigns. And I've stayed active.

Not because of a simple easy to navigate website that was easy to find information on. But because a campaign spoke to me and offered me a way to be a part of it. This is what a blog can do for a campaign.

So much in my brain now... Must sum up in a post to come.