Chávez campaign hits the Web
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Senatorial candidate hosts online town hall meeting
11/13/2007 -
Democratic Senatorial candidate Martin Chávez took his campaign directly to Internet users Tuesday with an "online town hall," with the candidate fielding questions from those participating in the event.At its peak, about halfway into the event, 90 people were viewing the streaming video of Chávez answering questions posed in an Internet chat room and read to him by a campaign aide. By the end of the hour, 75 viewers were still watching, according to the number on the "screen."
"Tonight we made history," Chávez, who is mayor of Albuquerque, said at the end of the event. He predicted all candidates in the future will conduct similar interactive forums. Chávez said he learned from the questions being asked.
Chávez campaign manager Mark Fleisher said after the event that it was "the first video town hall in New Mexico."
Two weeks ago, the Chávez campaign hosted a conference call for progressive bloggers — an attempt to reach out to a Democratic constituency that frequently disagrees with him. "You'll be seeing a lot of unique uses of new technology in this campaign," Fleisher said.
Chávez's campaign last month hired California-based Blackrock Associates to run its online campaign.
"It's a nice way to communicate with voters from all over the state," Chávez said.
During the entire hour, he never once said the name of U.S. Rep. Tom Udallof New Mexico, who is running against him in the Democratic primary. However, several times, he talked about "the failure of Washington, D.C." — perhaps a veiled reference to his opponent, a five-term Congressman.
Most of the earlier questions asked seemed like open-ended "soft balls" that simply allowed Chávez to recite his campaign talking points — Chávez supports military veterans, transparency in government and conserving water — the questions got a little tougher as the night progressed.
At one point, several participants in the chat room clamored for Chávez to "answer Marjorie's question." A participant by that name asked, "Would you vote in favor of neo-liberal trade agreements, which are modeled on (the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement), or would you seek to reform the current U.S. approach which cuts off international financial support to countries that seek an autonomous approach to development?"
Eventually that question was asked. Chávez described himself as a "free trader as long as it's fair trade," explaining he thinks NAFTA is well-intentioned but flawed because it fails to take into account human rights and the environment.
Some participating in the chat room were obvious Chávez supporters. "Marty we love you in southern NM," a chatter named Joni wrote. Several were obvious detractors, making cracks about Chávez's unpopular red-light camera program for traffic offenders. Some were plain silly.
"Have you smoked pot?" one participant asked. "Really, like did you inhale? Then eat and eat and eat and laugh and then get all paranoid?"
Chávez's staff didn't pose that question to him.
The video of the town hall will be posted on Chávez's Web site — www.martychavez.com — Thursday, Fleisher said.
Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.
