Among the first to go were Metromail, a direct-mail-database company, and Donnelley Enterprise Solutions, which ran copy departments and mail rooms for law firms and the like.

FORBES: Magazine Article

While the Republican Party has long had direct mail backed up by a database of voter information, Rasiej points out that Obama's list, when combined with the Internet, offers Democrats an easy way to communicate efficiently with their base -- something they have not had on terms comparable with the GOP.

CNN: What will Obama do with his millions of online 'friends'?