In bid for Bachmann’s seat, Clark goes to geeks with Android app

Fresh off a high-profile appearance at the Netroots Nation conference in Las Vegas, Minnesota 6th Congressional District candidate Tarryl Clark has released an app for Android phones, the open-source competitor to iPhone and beloved operating system of gadget geeks.

The app is essentially a distillation of Clark’s website, with positive press accounts, trivia about Rep. Michele Bachmann and weather (for some reason). Clark announced it over Twitter last night. As of this morning, it had received less than 50 downloads from the Android Market.

Already this week, Clark had one of the more visible operations at Netroots, which is considered to be a Democratic fundraising powerhouse after online networking helped push Barack Obama over the top in the 2008 election. Clark posted a page on her website targeted at Netroots attendees, calling for them to join her blogging corps:

“I left NN10 more energized than ever about our campaign and the grassroots network we have built – in the district and across the Internet. I hope you’ll continue to be a part of it.”

But while Clark is breaking state fundraising records, she still trails incumbent Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) in the money race by $2 million.

Data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics (7/27/2010)

Not to mention that the latest polls show Clark still trailing Bachmann by nine points in the uber–conservative 6th district.

In a video interview with Talking Points Memo, Clark stays on message, but acknowledges that it’s become a national race because Bachmann has made it a national race, pointing out later that Bachmann’s sought out national media celebrity.

As Clark wrote to Netroots attendees in her Daily Kos blog about the event:

“You’re going to play a pivotal role in this election.  For the past few years, you’ve made sure that Michele Bachmann is held accountable for her words and deeds.  We’ve seen in just the past few days how critical your work is, when on Friday Congresswoman Bachmann said that, should the GOP take over the House in November, “all we should do is issue subpoenas and have one hearing after another.”

The high-profile Netroots appearance and Android app (and an upcoming Iphone app) could signal a move to raise Clark’s profile with her own national audience, which could help even the playing field for her as the election looms.