They’re Coming: Politicians are invading the Internet!
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Let’s face it, the average person spends a lot of time on the Internet. Today, we need high speed connections so that we can check our cyber calendars, do our banking, make travel arrangements, shop and even get our news! Unfortunately politicians have gotten wind of this and they too are jumping on the cyber bandwagon. But is this a bad thing? Given the limited attention span of web users, politicians will have to strip down long-winded messages and for the first time in history actually get to the point! Additionally, to effectively use the Internet, politicians will be required to clearly highlight and potentially commit to their platform which is a good thing! Moreover, rather than avoiding political pitfalls some may opt to proactively use interactive resources such as blogs to respond to issues. As a registered voter this feels like a breath of fresh air! So Who Did It First? At first glance most folks would guess Bill Clinton. While Clinton is a media puppet master I think it is fair to say Howard Dean was the first politician to effectively use the Internet. Long before he belted out the crazy screaming rant that cost him the democratic nomination, he and his political advisors understood the power of the Internet. Back in 2002, Dean was a lesser known candidate who didn’t have financial backing from wealthy supporters. Not to be undone, he solicited financial support online. Millions of independent citizens logged on and donated to his campaign. This method was relatively inexpensive to set up, accessible to the average voter and was extremely successful. It is reported that by 2004, Dean’s Internet based fundraising efforts totaled 50 million dollars! Dean also effectively used interactive resources to market himself to younger cyber sophisticated voters. While on the campaign trail he regularly blogged. He often used his blog to request suggestions and ultimately inspired thousands of young voters to get involved in the political process. Current Stats Fast forward a few years, now both Democrats and Republicans are at it again! Hillary Clinton has been dodging questions about her political aspirations since she moved to New York and became one of the Empire States most popular senators. Like Dean, Hillary Clinton is using interactive resources in her effort to become the democratic nominee and first female President of the United States. In fact, she used her website to communicate her official bid for the democratic nomination. In her official statement, she appeared in live streaming video and spoke directly to voters. She also participated in three days of live interactive chats with potential voters via her official website. Users logged on and were allowed to ask unscripted questions. This strategy personalized her candidacy. Moreover, Republican senator John McCain went on the “Late Night with David Letterman Show” to announce his bid for the Republican nomination. But if you missed his official comments users could mosey over to his website and watch streaming video of the announcement. Another interesting interactive feature on McCain’s website is McCain Space. Users can join his social network to connect to like minded Mc Cain supporters and activists. Final Thoughts Most Americans would prefer to avoid the pre-canned ramblings of politicians. The Internet gives us this opportunity. Today, Internet savvy voters now have an invaluable opportunity to quickly identify concise information about candidates. Additionally, perhaps as more politicians market themselves to younger voters many may opt to get out and show their disappointment or support for politicians. This will ultimately improve the political landscape. Finally, lesser known politicians with limited financial resources have an opportunity to forgo expensive traditional mediums yet effectively reach potential voters. So in the coming months we should get ready for pre-taped phone calls, mud slinging political commercials, Larry King sit-downs and more visits to late night talk shows. Internet savvy voters should also expect to see targeted email campaigns, live streaming video, increased blogging and more interactive chats with politicians. Even if you’re not convinced, politics can be a seedy business so it might as well be on the Internet!
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