Released on = May 21, 2007, 12:48 pm

Press Release Author = ConnectThru.com

Industry = Marketing

Press Release Summary = 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!

Press Release Body = La Toya Hodge

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!


Web Site = http://

Contact Details = e-mail: connectthrueditor@gmail.com
Allison Brown
ConnectThru.com
PO Box 881
New York, NY 10156