(Originally posted on another list, a few months back - jd)

In order to "defeat Bush", somebody else needs to get elected. That's the
bigger question. Duh.

What can networks/network science tell us about elections? Campaigns are
(ad hoc) networks, with clusters in various "constituencies" like
fundamentalists, trade unionists, Chicago machine, etc.? Those
clusters/constituencies have hubs/super-connectors, which suggests a
strategy for working w/ them? All of this obvious to anyone who's done
campaign work.

What's more interesting to me is how the clusters are going through a
process of disintegration and reconstruction, driven by the economic
revolution and the ensuing social consequences. The links w/in the clusters
are being destroyed as workers are laid off, city and state budgets
slashed, social anxiety rising, etc etc.

The reconstruction part is more interesting -- e.g., new links/shapes w/in
the trade union movement; peace movement; environment movement. And what
role ideas and vision have to play there; what might come out of the 2004
election process?