Assuming Dean wins the nomination, the national campaign is shaping up as a battle of technologies. Dean's crew is energized through the Internet. Bush & Co. is using AM radio. The Internet is perceived as the community building technology, as much because call-and-response are on the same channel. AM radio is just as powerful, albeit that it is a dual-band system. Pundit broadcasts, respondents telephone in. The power of AM is that the technologies used are more ubiquitous and more location independent. It's hard to listen to the Internet while you're doing something else, like driving or working.

Dean's people would be well served to focus on these small stations. If nothing else, they would show a willingness to not let that Republican core have a free ride.