The Lessons of Barack Obama

BKB Africa’s Karin Veltman and Erik van Bruggen were in Washington DC for an international conference of campaign strategists, communication experts and progressive politicians.

They spoke with Clinton’s old chief of staff John Podesta, who led Obama’s transition into government; Obama’s campaign strategist and manager David Plouffe; pollster Joel Benenson and many others who were were responsible for the successful grass root organisation of Obama’s campaign.

The conference aimed to make a joint analysis of the American presidential campaign. President Obama’s chief campaigning team shared the lessons learned and best practices of the campaign and translating this campaign into policy.

The smart use of technology and new media to support grass root canvassing and motivating millions of grass root ambassadors to voluntary contribute their time, energy and knowledge were essential in building a modern campaign where people believed that they could be active stakeholders and participants in shaping their own future.

The 2-day conference was organised by the Center for American Progress and the Ideas Foundation.