Joe Trippi, campaign manager in the last Democratic presidental primary season for Gov. Howard Dean, will work for former N.C. Sen. John Edwards this time.

The veteran campaign consultant made the announcement this afternoon in simultaneous posts (I'm signing on, I'm signing on) at his own site and at the John Edwards 08 blog.

In Dean's campaign, Trippi pioneered the successful use of a blog (sample), many small online donations and Meet-Ups. (Meet-Up is Web-based software that helps organize local gatherings of political activists, hobbyists and others who share a common interest.) The Dean for America "bat," pictured at right, measured fundraising progress.

These Netroots techniques are crediting with bringing many new people into the political process and helping to level the field for the outsider former Governor of Vermont, now chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Trippi's Web-savvy presence on this bandwagon seems a good sign for the Edwards campaign.

AP
Joe Trippi and Howard Dean before the New Hampshire
presidential debate, Jan. 22 2004. Trippi announced
today he has signed on with the campaign of former
Sen. John Edwards, Democrat of North Carolina.