Change in the air(waves).

Last September, news reports predicted the influx of traditional advertising would highlight the upcoming political campaign. Sadly, they were right. Politicians are pretty interesting idiots sometimes. They operate knowing full well that voters rejected the status quo two years ago. They ignored that voters crave engaging messages in the places they are engaged.

Except for one – the one boldly energizing the country with change. Obama.

I’m not sure I’m an Obama believer. I don’t see incredible dimension or brilliant legislation ticking behind his words. I try to remove myself from the media hysteria surrounding “firsts”. But, damn, it’s hard to ignore his passion. He believes it at his core. He seeds that passion in speeches, communications and his younger voter base. Because it feels authentic. And rallying around a passionate cry for change just feels right.

On Saturday, I sent a text message to 62262 (OBAMA). A text titled HOPE. A text fired back immediately, welcoming me to the campaign and asking for my zip code. Another few seconds later I had updates and alerts about upcoming events in the days leading up to the Virginia primary. On Sunday, I received a news alert about Obama’s Maine victory. Mobile seems like a brilliant way to mobilize a text-drive nation of younger voters. Maybe, just maybe, he really understands his base.

Pundits and politicos continue to talk about the young voter explosion in Obama’s favor. For media analysts, this shouldn’t be such a surprise. He has the right message and he hits the right spots. He knows his audience and where media hits them. Unlike his competitors, he understands the complex web of touch points surrounding this hugely untapped and often ignored audience – one that can seize control of the electorate.

McCain, bowing to traditional tactics, has video and blog capabilities on his site. Romney employs YouTube, Facebook, Myspace and limited mobile messaging. And Hillary virtually copies Romney’s initiatives. What makes Obama different? With them, these tactics are add-ons talking to, not with voters. With him, though, it’s an authentic conversation, designed to unite and share.

McCain, Huckabee, Clinton and Romney (in his last days) revert to online video and television commercials to drive the vote. But Obama is, as his site says, everywhere. He’s online and off-line. He’s in print; he’s on TV. He’s on BlackPlanet.com, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, Glee and more. And he’s texting. He’s leveraging the technological world and the community-based, social networking platforms to bring people together. To ignite change. To spread the furor.

Is it any wonder he wins every caucus that physically simulates the vast online community he owns? I don’t think so.