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by Teresa Martin

Some of the cars honked - and we'd all wave and shout excitedly. Some waved back - no, no, not the cars, the people inside the cars! There were thumbs up and thumbs down. Yup, this is primary season and I was part of a long "vote for my candidate" visibility tradition.

This was as analog as it gets. Paper signs on wood sticks. Woolen knit gloves on waving fingers. Shouts of encouragement. Except that I was organized to be here through online outreach.

I'm engaged in this election because for the first time I'm moved by a candidate and there's someone I want to vote FOR, not against. Which feels really good.

And I'm engaged because it's so darn easy to participate.

Months ago I wrote about some of the early efforts in this campaign season and how social networking concepts were starting to play a role. It has become increasingly clear that this is the election year where novel new media becomes part of doing business as usual - and is helping to shape and change the dynamics of who jumps in and how they connect.

Like most of us, I'm pretty much going to take the path of least resistance. Which is why letters sometimes ride around with me for weeks unmailed, but an email is likely to get a quick-click response. I live online far less than many I know ... but I do live there enough that it's the channel through which I organize my life. And if I'm going to be politically engaged, that's were you'll need to reach me.

And indeed, that is where my candidate found me. Through mybarackobama.com, through "personalized' email, through mailing lists and contact from local and regional organizers. I've given money, I've given time, and more important, I've given my heart because this feels personal. I'm not just staring at a face on a TV.

Today is also the South Carolina primary, a much-watched contest. Tonight, at 8:57 pm, into my inbox pops the "personal" message:

• Teresa --
  
  We've just won a big victory in South Carolina.
  
  After four great contests in every corner of this country, and another record turnout today, we have the most votes, the most delegates, and the most diverse coalition of Americans we've seen in a long, long time.
  
  You'll have a chance to make your voice heard next Tuesday, February 5th -- and I am counting on you.
  
  I'll be heading down shortly to thank our supporters in South Carolina.
  
  If you're reading this tonight, I hope you'll tune in at home so I can thank you, too.
  
  Barack

Of course it's an email blast message, which is about as personal as direct snail mail, but because I read it on the screen of my laptop, the physical environment gave it a sense of one-to-one communication. Because it came direct to my inbox, it felt like it was meant for me. Because it was breaking news, it was timely and didn't have the lag of printed information. Because it was within my controlled space, it didn't have the intrusiveness of unwanted commercial messages or the controlled-by-someone-else pace of television.

In short, it was effective.

But what it is most effective at is getting me to perform very old-fashioned actions. Like agreeing to show up and hold signs and wave.

A large segment of popular belief tends to think that digital connections are cold and depersonalized, but anyone who really connects that way knows better. It's real, immediate, and very human. And it's the perfect complement to the equally human business of shaking hands, making eye contact, and helping people believe. And it doesn't get any better than that.