Canvassing voters in the electronic age

Bizcor sent me this idea for a post (Thank you):

“Obama has an app for iPhone that identifies the registered Democrats at the phones location.      http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2012/08/04/obama-campaign-mobile-app-reveals-which-of-your-neighbors-are-registered-dems/

That reminded me of the several political campaigns I’ve been involved in.  In the old days, a campaign would buy voter lists, identifying voters by party affiliation, address and phone number.  It could then use these to plan its door-to-door and phone campaigning.    The Obama app sounds like an updated, electronic age version of the same lists.  If he’s smart, Romney will have the same app.  In fact, I suppose all campaigns, right down to the local level, will soon have them.  What, if any, significance do you see in such instant access?