New Technology Plays Growing Role in US Presidential Race | Voice of America - English
The speed with which the world receives information is  increasing, thanks to the Internet, cell phones, and other devices. But text and instant messaging, as well as so-called "social networks,"  are more than luxuries.    As VOA's Robert Raffaele explains, today's instant communication is also helping to shape the race for the U.S.
ForSenators John McCain and Barack Obama, staying "on message"increasingly means staying "online." Fromwebsite links helping people register to vote, to links to personalized pageson "social networks" such as Facebook and My Space -  the campaigns of the presumed Republican andDemocratic nominees have embraced the Internet. BrianDarling is a senior government analyst with the Heritage Foundation, aconservative research institute in Washington. Darlingsays, "Candidates are using all of these new technologies, whether it bethrowing videos on the Internet, or text messages, to get messages out veryquickly. So, we are seeing a campaign that is different than any other campaignin America's history." DemocratHoward Dean may have been the groundbreaker. He was a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004. Analysts,including Donald Rieck, of the Center for Media and Public Affairs, credit Deanas the first candidate to use the Internet to energize supporters. "Hevery effectively utilized the Internet to get his name in front of massiveamounts of people, which again in the presidential race, is what you need todo," Rieck said. YouTube isone website being used by bothcandidates. Both have uploaded campaign ads of themselves. Rieck saysYou Tube messages have a direct appeal that expensive television commercialscannot match. He adds, "Ithink the primary thing is that a person clicks on a You Tube video and thenit's him and the video, and it's his choice, they can stop it, they can pauseit. So I think the intimacy and ownership of the event is better and moreconnected to the viewer." Obama'scampaign has taken the high-tech battle one step further with his plan toannounce his vice presidential running mate. Supporterswho submitted their wireless phone numbers received the information ahead ofthe news media, via text message and email. Thatapproach may have pros and cons. This is connecting with them almost viscerally throughtechnology, which is good. But if, especially as the campaign accelerates intothe fall, if you're bombarding these people with daily updates, and filling uptheir mailboxes, there could be a backlash against that," Rieck explained. The newtechnology used by the campaigns mayimpede the public's ability to separate hype from useful information, analystssay. And for that reason, voters may lose as candidates battle across thedigital domain.