Why Obama won

WLS Shipwrecked at Patterico's Pontifications:

The internet wasn't seen by them as a device simply for dispensing information to their supporters — it was a lifeline back and forth between the campaign and the supporters.  Email addresses linked to PDAs and cellphones put the campaign always in contact with its supporters.  I read that the Obama campaign gave away signs and bumper-stickers in exchange for getting someone's email address, understanding that the lost revenue for the trinket could be more than made up for later on if that person was prompted to donate $10, $20 or more to the campaign through a link sent via email.

So, while Karl Rove and the GOP had their direct mail lists, and neighbor-to-neighbor 72 hour turnout operation, Obama quietly built a viral networking and fundraising juggernaut.  It was 20th Century technology v. 21st Century technology.