From 2004 through today, online social media is strongly prominent and influential to voters in the United States. This article from the Lodi News-Centennial points out various candidates using the internet to gain support. For example, Congressman Jerry McNerney is using Facebook to send out event invitations to let his followers know when he will be maing campaign stops. McNerney's opponent, David Harmer, countered by using Facebook to post pictures of campaign volunteers making phone calls and challenging others to help out on the campaign trail. Alyson Huber, Democrat Assemplywomen is using the social network to post endorsements from organizations. While her opponenet, Jack Sieglock, posts videos to encourage support of his campaign. In face, a councilwoman in the city of Lodi, California, praised social networking saying, "It is easier for people to contact you and let you know there is a problem, or thank you for solving one." The article also suggests that the fusing of social media and politics is still growing because some candidates have features that may turn off the audience. For example, when you first enter Sieglock's webpage you get a popup that immediately asks for a phone number and e-mail address. Online campaigning and blogging started gaining some attention with Howard Dean's 2004 bid for president. Even though Dean's "Scream" led to his campaign downfall, he showed us that using the internet is an effective way to attract and get in touch with supporters (153-154). Even in the 2006 Mid-Term elections political campaigns utilized the internet. For example, Mike DeWine sent out attack ads via online, endorsements he received, and a countdown that remined people of election day (184). New Jersey's Bob Casey used his blog to post pictures "From the Road." This made the viewer think they were getting personal and an exclusive look at the candidate (185).
http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_a7b8297f-d60d-50cc-b525-3885d7da940.html
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Dan I thought this was an interesting article that I wished I would have seen first. Social netowrks are going to take over the world and to college students like us, We learn most our news throughout the world through networks just like in the past when newspapers and radios took over campaigning. President Obama took advantage of the social networks in 2008 and in my opinion is the reason why he won because he attracted the college students. I am currently obsessed with Twitter, and since last year I hear all the brealking news first on twitter because the power is right in the palms of our hands.
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