A Google Earth Hack for Politics
by Patrick Ruffini :: March 17th, 2007 10:39 pm
Mike Krempasky thinks that Lifehacker will get my attention with this Google Earth/census data mashup.
As usual, he’s right.
Of course, I was mashing up Google Earth (then Keyhole) and election data back in 2003, but the clear value proposition is bringing demography to the masses. Wait until someone builds precinct layers on top of this.
In no sense did we need Google Earth when it came onto the scene. Only the real geeks were building 3D models of this stuff before. With Google Earth you can scale Everest virtually, well, just because. It’s adding a layer of play to geospatial analysis.
The national parties already have very advanced models and probably wouldn’t need something like this. Their voter targeting is dictated by dispassionate databases — as it should be. But I do think that adding a layer of play could help get the long tail campaigns (the Congressionals on down) on board with the microtargeting program.
Tagged: google earth 
mapping microtargeting
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Yes, some of us were doing this back in the early 1990s in Florida and elsewhere. Im surprised there isnt more interest on the Internet in maps showing voting and demographic patterns. They reveal a lot about America’s neighborhoods, and tell you as much as any exit poll does especially when you consider the margin of error for certain sub groups.