Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Dilmaboy and Twitter: Brazil election goes online
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Comments (0)
Save
Email
Print
Reprints
Most Popular
Most Shared
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler falls off stage again
18 Aug 2010
Police bust Paris "booby" trap gang
18 Aug 2010
Chrome OS tablet from HTC reported to ship in November
18 Aug 2010
Eggs linked to salmonella outbreak in 3 states
18 Aug 2010
Google CEO Exposes Dark Side of Social Networking
18 Aug 2010
Tai Chi beats stretching in fibromyalgia study
18 Aug 2010
Rocker John Mellencamp likens Internet to A-bomb
18 Aug 2010
Harvard tops university list as China progress
18 Aug 2010
Wall Street drops on weak jobless, manufacturing data
| Video
11:23am EDT
Factbox: IPO could lead to payday for GM employees
18 Aug 2010
Tai Chi beats stretching in fibromyalgia study
18 Aug 2010
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler falls off stage again
18 Aug 2010
Google CEO Exposes Dark Side of Social Networking
18 Aug 2010
Award winners
30 Jun 2010
Eggs linked to salmonella outbreak in 3 states
18 Aug 2010
Police bust Paris "booby" trap gang
18 Aug 2010
Facebook "Places" lets users track friends and services
8:58am EDT
Chrome OS tablet from HTC reported to ship in November
18 Aug 2010
Scientists suggest fresh look at psychedelic drugs
18 Aug 2010
Harvard tops university list as China progress
18 Aug 2010
"Dilmaboy" and Twitter: Brazil election goes online
Digg This
Tweet This
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Facebook
Related News
Serra, sliding in Brazil polls, hits Rousseff record
Wed, Aug 18 2010
UPDATE1-Serra slides again in poll, seeks TV comeback
Tue, Aug 17 2010
Serra seeks comeback as Brazil TV campaign begins
Tue, Aug 17 2010
Brazil's Rousseff: private sector to operate rails
Wed, Aug 11 2010
Analysis: Surge in Chinese investment reshapes Brazil ties
Tue, Aug 10 2010
Related Topics
Technology »
iPad »
Lifestyle »
By Stuart Grudgings
RIO DE JANEIRO |
Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:52am EDT
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Complete with its own version of "Obama Girl," Brazil's election has moved firmly into the Internet age this year as candidates battle for votes and clicks among a surging number of computer users.
The two main contenders to succeed President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have become avid tweeters, invested in websites that can gather donations, and on Wednesday took part in the country's first online presidential debate.
The debate among the ruling coalition's Dilma Rousseff, her chief opponent Jose Serra and trailing Green Party candidate Marina Silva provided the sharpest exchanges of the campaign so far and was streamed live on networking sites Twitter and Facebook.
While TV remains the most powerful medium in the vast country of 190 million people, the Internet is rapidly growing in importance as millions of consumers get a foothold in the middle class every year and buy their first computer.
The two main parties are trying to import aspects of the strategy that helped Barack Obama win the U.S. presidency in 2008 by leap-frogging the mainstream media, organizing supporters, and gathering record online donations.
The number of Internet users in Latin America's largest economy hit 72 million in 2008, according to the World Bank, doubling from four years earlier. Once they get online, Brazilians tend to stay there, racking up more time surfing per month than any other nationality, one survey showed.
"This is the first stage of a new thing that's happening," said Joe Rospars, a founder of the Blue State Digital firm that devised Obama's game-changing Internet strategy and which has been hired to do the same job for Rousseff.
"As more critical mass of voters and people get online, the more they are going to do and demand from campaigns and the more campaigns will be looking to do with them."
The race has already had its first YouTube hit reminiscent of the video "I got a crush on Obama" featuring "Obama Girl" that went viral ahead of the 2008 U.S. election.
As "Dilmaboy," already watched nearly a quarter of a million times, university student Paulo Reis dances and croons his admiration of Rousseff, telling her opponent:
"The people are hungry and want to eat. Sorry Serra, but you're going to lose."
The video is a rare moment of comic relief for voters in Brazil, where TV and radio stations are legally banned from poking fun at candidates in the run-up to the election.
Serra, a former Sao Paulo state governor, has used his Twitter page since last year to form a direct link with voters, combating his somewhat stiff and aloof image with light-hearted musings on football and his daily routine.
While he trails Rousseff in opinion polls ahead of the October 3 vote, he at least has a bigger Twitter presence with more than 370,000 "followers" to his rival's 174,000.
LACK OF PASSION?
The popular Lula has yet to follow Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez by opening his own Twitter page but a video message from him was posted on Rousseff's page this week urging Internet users to help make her Brazil's first woman leader.
"Each Internet user is an opinion former," said the ex-union boss, who last year signed a law permitting Internet campaigning.
As in the United States, Brazilian parties are aiming to use the Internet as an organizing and funding tool, targeting enthusiastic voters who can spread the word about a candidate.
"At the moment only militants seem interested, but we think a lot of people will go online near the election day to look for information about the candidates," said Danielle Fonteles, the director of Pepper Communications, a Brazilian firm that is working with Blue State Digital on Rousseff's campaign.
Skeptics say the engagement of Brazilians on networking sites such as Twitter is shallow and unlikely to translate into passionate grass-roots activism in a race between two largely uncharismatic candidates with similar backgrounds.
Only 7 percent of voters get their campaign information from the Internet, compared to more than 20 percent in the United States, a recent Datafolha survey found.
"The parties are still learning how to use this medium so there's a lot of uncertainly over its impact," said Rafael Cortez, a political analyst at Tendencias consultancy in Sao Paulo.
(Editing by Eric Beech)
Technology
iPad
Lifestyle
Add a Comment
*We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam and review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters.
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Reader Feedback
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Analyst Research
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts
Venture Capital Journal
International Financing Review
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
FindLaw
Reuters on Facebook
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Thursday, 19 August 2010 Weather shifts behind disasters need 'urgent' probe: UN
Verizon eyes live TV app for tablets including iPad
Suicide car bomber kills 4 in southern Afghanistan
Criticism mounts over France's Roma expulsion
US-TECH Summary
Khamenei: Iran won't talk with U.S. in current climate
|
Regulatory tensions dragging on US economy: NYSE chief
Eminem Recovers The #1 Spot On Billboard Albums Chart
Cuomo says 6 settle on hidden online shopping fees
"The Expendables" To Premiere On Spike TV
Japan analyzing damage to tanker in Hormuz Strait
|
Party-Backed Kendrick Meek Leads Democratic Primary Race For Senate
WikiLeaks says US willing to talk about leaked papers
Proof of Extra-Terrestial Life in 25 Years Speculates Scientist
Justin Bieber, B.o.B. Performing At MTV Video Music Awards
Homeless NJ Man Discovered Living In Library Basement
Steven Tyler Reportedly Already Signed On For "Idol"
News Corp. Cites GOP's "Pro-Business Agenda" In $1 Million Donation
Deadly Russian heatwave declared over
|
Former Bolivian dictator sent for drug rehabilitation
|
CA Appeals Court Rules Shopping Mall Cannot Infringe On Free Speech Of Customers
Gaming giants bet on 3D for next big boost
Chicago Area Pickpocket Arrested For 58th Time
American-Filipino tenor's rise from rock to opera
U.N. secures more Pakistan flood relief funds
China warns U.S. military report threatens ties
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
China lashes out at Pentagon military report
Child of shrinks recalls his childhood in memoir
US ballet troupe to dance in Cuba for first time in 50 years
T-Mobile USA plans high-speed Android phone
|
Verizon eyes live TV app for iPad, other tablets
|
Dr. Laura to end radio show after racial slurs
Cuomo says 6 settle on hidden online shopping fees
|
Syria tourist numbers up over last year
Author Geraldine Brooks to receive Dayton literary prize
Foxconn holds morale-boosting exercise in China
Betty White books to reflect on sex, aging, animals
German robber nabbed after mocking police in email
|
Former outsourcing tycoon 'bailed' in big fraud case
Model Macedonian school aims to bridge the ethnic divide
Gaming giants bet on 3D for next big boost
Reliance-CBS announce new TV channels for India, S.Asia
'Mr. Right' gets modern makeover in The Switch
|
Dr. Laura to end radio talk show after racial slurs
|
Betty White books to reflect on sex, aging, animals
|
Author Geraldine Brooks to receive Dayton literary prize
|
Man behind Bozo the Clown remembered in new book
|
Pentagon says no to 'sanitized' WikiLeaks release
U.S. says troop numbers in Iraq at 56,000
|
Bull rams spectators in Spain, 30 injured
Facebook adds location-sharing feature
U.S. says troop numbers in Iraq at 56,000
Over 4 million homeless in flood-hit Pakistan: U.N.
|
GM files for landmark public share offering
Criticism mounts over France's Roma expulsion
Khamenei: Iran won't talk with U.S. in current climate
HP names firm to spearhead CEO search
Eminem Recovers The #1 Spot On Billboard Albums Chart
China rescuers seek 90 missing after landslide
|
Obama tries to boost faith in US economic revival
U.S. companies, others meet again on Internet traffic
Venezuela bans papers from printing violent photos
|
Afghanistan, African countries top index for food insecurity
Titanic to come to 3D life in scientific expedition
Body of kidnapped mayor dumped in northern Mexico
|
Verizon eyes live TV app for iPad, other tablets
T-Mobile USA plans high-speed Android phone
Wyclef Jean says threats won't deter candidacy
|
North Korea confirms Chinese among detained fishermen
|
Police detain suspect after blast kills 7 in Xinjiang
|
Cuban dissidents denounce government harassment
|
UN to meet on Pakistan as fears mount for survivors
Hairdresser defrauds Hollywood starlets
Indonesia's coral reefs dying at alarming rate
Kings of Leon reject "Glee" request
Last US combat brigade pulls out of Iraq
US base ruling risks new tensions for Colombia's president
HP names firm to spearhead CEO search
|
Paroled US radical ordered back to prison in Peru
India finds a way to access BlackBerry emails: report
|
Ernest Borgnine to be honored by Hollywood actors
U.S. Clarifies E-Mail Tough Talk With India Over Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Global minimum and maximum temperatures
Apple iPhone 4 may go on sale in China by Sept: report
|
Man Racks Up $1 Million In PayPal Charges Over Phishing Attack
S.Korean tyre firm eyes Indonesia plant
US Releases Reply Letter Refusing To Negotiate With WikiLeaks
September 11 anniversary set for Muslim centre marches
Stocks Keep Gains For Second Day
Tata Motors targets 700 million dollar issue
Pentagon rules out Wikileaks negotiations
Asia's booming middle classes unmasked in new study
US opposes use of force in South China Sea dispute
Hairdresser defrauds Hollywood starlets
U.S. companies, others meet again on Internet traffic
|
Titanic to come to 3D life in scientific expedition
|
Seoul shares up for 3rd day on Hyundai Motor, Hynix
Muslim employee sues US Disneyland over headscarf ban
Another region in China raises minimum wage
CBS developing "Undercover Boss" companion series
Korea Hot Stocks
China starts trading Malaysian ringgit against yuan
Bret Michaels sues concert promoter for $5 million
China province shuts fireworks plants after blast
"Saw" veteran makes date for '11 11 11'
BRIEF-Moody's Korean telcos improve profitability
NZ consumer confidence edges higher in August-survey
Kings of Leon reject "Glee" request
Spoofs seek proof of life at box office
Year since bomber freed, Lockerbie tries to move on
Aerosmith singer Tyler joining "Idol": bandmate
Broadband network could switch Australian voters
Aerosmith singer Tyler joining Idol: bandmate
|
Iceland aiming to be a global press freedom haven
Bret Michaels sues concert promoter for $5 million
|
Lohan attorneys meet with judge, new hearing set
|
Apple iPhone 4 may go on sale in China by Sept: report
Spoofs seek proof of life at box office
|
CBS developing Undercover Boss companion series
|
Kings of Leon reject Glee request
|
Eric Clapton reunites with Sheryl Crow on album
|
BBC News apologizes for weatherman gesture
|
Saw veteran makes date for '11 11 11'
|
Jersey Shore star Snooki pleads not guilty
|
Analysis
Scores expelled in French crackdown on Roma
Seoul fights to block N.Korea's Twitter propaganda
South Africa police fire rubber bullets at strikers
|
China says crashed North Korean jet had mechanical failure
|
A year on, Lockerbie bomber casts a long shadow
|
Alleged Paramount Leaked Email Reveals Upcoming Projects
Gaza-bound aid ship aims to leave Lebanon on Sunday
|
Egg Recall Expanded to 380 Million Over Salmonella Outbreak
Mandela charity trustee quits over Campbell gems
|
Betty White Inks Deal For Two Books
France expels radical cleric in anti-crime drive
|
Afghanistan marks independence day
12-Year-Old Girl Busted In NYC Drug Raid
Wyclef Jean says threats won't deter candidacy
|
Over 200 mln US eggs recalled in salmonella scare
Facebook "Places" lets users track friends and services
Appeals Court Rules Utah Roadside Crosses Unconstitutional
Short-Short Clad Women Cause Highway Pileup
Prenatal Exposure To Pesticides Linked To Attention Problems
Latest China mudslides leave 14 dead, dozens missing
Israel, Lebanon oppose border escalation: UN force
Georgia Cop Charged With Protecting Drug Dealers, Stealing
Explosion in China's restive Xinjiang kills seven
Pakistan flood homeless toll put at over 4 million
Early Life Events Impact Adult Mental Health
Kabul defiant on private security firms despite fears
Myanmar opposition widens reach before poll
Even Modest Weight Gain Could Harm Youngsters' Blood Vessels
Taliban attack road crew in south Afghanistan
US raises Myanmar heat with war crimes panel call
US service member killed in southern Afghanistan
Bangladesh shuts gas filling stations for Ramadan
Facebook Places lets users track friends and services
|
US teen hopeful for peace after N.Korea visit
Japan's Ozawa may challenge PM in party vote
Dilmaboy and Twitter: Brazil election goes online
|
N.Korea confirms it seized S.Korean fishing boat
Farmer suicide joke falls flat in Bollywood hit
Attack kills 7 in China's restive Xinjiang
Titanic to come to 3D life in scientific expedition
|
Muslim employee: Disney banned her head scarf
Kosovo hurdles for Roma kids expelled from Germany
Operator of Wis. ride where girl fell is charged
Thais to rule on suspected arms dealer extradition
Myanmar pro-democracy leaders praise US decision
Rare double quake blamed for South Pacific tsunami
China Mobile profit lifted by economic growth
Japanese shares close higher on hopes of action
Indonesia railway launches women-only carriages
ADB prepares two billion dollar fund for Pakistan
India's BlackBerry formula amid security concerns
Seoul shares up for 3rd day on Hyundai Motor, Hynix
ADB offers flood-hit Pakistan $2 bln package
A Minute With: Emma Thompson as Nanny McPhee
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights