Who uses new media better

[not_so_new]

Obama / Biden have a (new?) web site called....

http://www.johnmccainrecord.com

... which does a pretty good job of answering questions about McCain.

So far, with on line contributions and fact checking sites it seems that Obama is way out in front of McCain with the Internet.

I feel McCain works the traditional media a little better than Obama. As just a small example, he dropped out of Michigan on a day when the economy and the VeeP debate was dominating the headlines. As another example, McCain has released many attack ads to the media and let them air the ads for him while never actually paying for ad time on TV or radio.

1) How well does good Internet management combat traditional media? (I have my views but I wanted to open the question to the gallery)

2) Obama is pretty good at this Internet stuff and has really used the Internet in a way that no one else has so far. Are we watching the new model for presidential campaigns related to this media?

 

[geni]

The internet is of only limited use for campaining (since sites either tend to try to be apolitical or inhabited by the supporters of just one party). It is more useful for fundraiseing which is what obama appears to have done to a large extent.

 

[chipmunk stew]

The internet is of only limited use for campaining (since sites either tend to try to be apolitical or inhabited by the supporters of just one party). It is more useful for fundraiseing which is what obama appears to have done to a large extent.

I think the left* in general has taken better advantage, in that they finally have an echo chamber to rival the right*'s. The right* used talk radio and took political blogging to a new level (Drudge), and they were very effective at using spam. But I think the left* has done a better job mastering viral video, social networking, and microtargeting using the new tools. Plus, as you mention, the fundraising dominance.

*Convenience labels

 

[gdnp]

2) Obama is pretty good at this Internet stuff and has really used the Internet in a way that no one else has so far. Are we watching the new model for presidential campaigns related to this media?

I think this will be a new model. Web sites, web fundraising, and fact checking sites will be used more and more to get the message out. TV ads will decrease in importance. Palin's interviews were bad, but their effect has been multiplied but the constant replays on youtube. The same with the debates. They can now be replayed and dissected over and over. So far the Obama campaign has benefited from this much more than McCain. This may be in part because of his overwhelming lead in the under-30 vote. It also is helped by the campaign avoiding major gaffs since the convention. There just hasn't been a Rev. Wright-type controversy to exploit.

 

[dudalb]

So far the Left but the Right will catch up.

 

[geni]

I think this will be a new model. Web sites, web fundraising, and fact checking sites will be used more and more to get the message out. TV ads will decrease in importance.

Doubtful. TV adds are good for getting at people who don't already support you. With the web it is hard to get beyond your existing supporters.

 

[Wangler]

I think the left* in general has taken better advantage, in that they finally have an echo chamber to rival the right*'s. The right* used talk radio and took political blogging to a new level (Drudge), and they were very effective at using spam. But I think the left* has done a better job mastering viral video, social networking, and microtargeting using the new tools. Plus, as you mention, the fundraising dominance.

*Convenience labels

I agree with chipmunk....it is very easy to find videos of Obama's campaign stop speeches, for example. Not so easy to find McCain's.