Obama Builds Data Team That Could Inform Digital Ads, Social

Some of the millions of dollars raised by President Barack Obama's reelection campaign could be used to build one of the most innovative internal data operations ever for a political campaign. Obama for America has been hiring data quants, and recently posted job openings for predictive modeling and data mining analysts, along with state data directors. The strategic approach to data inside the campaign could help it better integrate offline and online data gleaned from social media and other online interactions.

OFA is developing an in-house Analytics Department to be based at the Chicago campaign headquarters. Staff there will work with state data directors to be based in several states, according to a job posting on the OFA site. The Chicago office will also have data desks responsible for various regions of the country.

The campaign is also seeking predictive modeling and data mining analysts who would be responsible for developing statistical and predictive models to assist in digital media, as well as for fundraising and other media. The analysts will be expected to have experience with digital media, online advertising data, Nielsen, and Arbitron data, in addition to text data. The job description, posted on data mining resource site KDnuggets, notes that text mining and social media analytics "is a plus."

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Predictive Modeling and Data Mining Scientists/Analysts at Obama 2012 Presidential Campaign, Chicago, IL

"It points to an extraordinarily high level of data integration inside the Obama campaign," said Alex Lundry, VP and research director at TargetPoint Consulting, a microtargeting and data mining firm that works with Republican candidates and organizations, including the Republican National Committee, Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential primary campaign, and John McCain's '08 presidential campaign. "It's a much more holistic view of the voter from a data perspective, and you don't see many GOP candidates doing that," he added.