Kenya and Korea aren’t the only democracies where mobile communications played a crucial role in recent elections. The USA electoral smart mobs weren’t organized at the grassroots, however, but from the very top of the political hierarchy: The Republican party’s chief strategist, Karl Rove, coordinated the recent Republican Congressional victories via his Blackberry communicator, according to Time magazine.

Through it all, Rove wore his war room on his belt — the postcard-size BlackBerry communicator that holds his unmatchable Rolodex as well as his e-mail system, through which he squirted orders and suggestions to campaign workers and lobbyists using only a few words. “It’s like haiku, “says a political operative who has been on the receiving end. During meetings — even ones with the President — Rove would constantly spin the BlackBerry’s dial and punch out text on its tiny keyboard. “Sometimes we’re in a meeting talking to each other and BlackBerrying each other at the same time, “says a colleague.