Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
US office-seekers dip into digital toolkits as vote looms
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
US office-seekers dip into digital toolkits as vote looms
AFP - Monday, October 18
Send
IM Story
Print
US office-seekers dip into digital toolkits as vote looms
Slideshow: Full Photo Coverage: Internet Portals & Search Engines
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Facebook page? Check. Twitter feed? Check. YouTube channel? Check.
Since Barack Obama rode the Web to the White House two years ago, a digital toolkit has become an essential item in the campaign arsenal of nearly every US office-seeker.
With the November 2 mid-term elections just weeks away, candidates across the country are reaching out virtually to their constituents in a bid to drum up votes.
"Facebook and social media in general have been adopted by all politicians who are looking to get an edge," said Andrew Rasiej, the co-founder of techPresident.com, a blog that tracks the use of technology in politics.
"All the associated benefits of social media, including being able to target, raise money and get out the vote, are being looked to as the new battleground," Rasiej said.
"Social media tools have changed from being new and exotic to being a standard part of campaigns," agreed Colin Delany, founder and chief editor of Epolitics.com, a site that focuses on online politics and advocacy.
A starting point for a 21st century online campaign is a website.
"A website's a given," Rasiej said. "But it's no longer about having people visit your website, although that's important.
"It's about being present where people already are, being present in the networks where people are already congregated.
"A website is sort of like a campaign office and social media is the town hall. You're going to be heard a lot more if you go to the town hall than if you just put posters in your storefront."
That town hall for many candidates is Facebook and its 500 million members.
"Facebook is the key," said John Culberson, a Republican from Texas who is considered one of the most tech-savvy members of the House of Representatives.
"As Facebook becomes more powerful and more adroit in the future it is going to become a pivot point," Culberson, who has nearly 4,000 friends on Facebook, told AFP.
Culberson has far more followers on Twitter -- over 13,500 for his @johnculberson account -- but he has soured on the microblogging service.
"I quit Twitter," he said. "Too many mindless trolls and spammers."
Rasiej said key ingredients for an online campaign are a "robust Facebook profile that's updated regularly," a YouTube presence to "tell stories about the rationale for your candidacy" and an "authentic Twitter account."
"That means not having a staffer tweet for you but actually tweeting yourself," he said. "People who use social media know the difference between a real voice and a fabricated voice."
Nancy Scola, the associate editor of techPresident, said the tools being used during the current campaign are largely the same as those successfully employed by Obama two years ago.
"We're not seeing too much innovation this mid-term cycle," Scola said. "There's no President Obama of the mid-terms."
But Scola and the other online political observers said candidates are using targeted Google search advertising more than ever before.
"You're starting to see the techniques of e-commerce be applied to e-politics," Rasiej said.
"Google and Facebook advertising have become standard tools since they're particularly useful for congressional and state races because they're easy to target," Delany said.
"This means that a campaign doesn't waste money advertising to people outside their districts, and it also lets them hit particular demographics with targeted messages intended to resonate."
Email also remains a "crucial political application," said Delany.
"Email typically has a much higher response rate for any given message than Facebook or Twitter, and it also reaches more people, since most Americans have an email account but fewer are on Facebook," he said.
Rasiej said the Republican Party, which was outdueled by the Democratic Party on the Web last time around, has made huge strides online over the past two years and "surprisingly, are ahead of the Democrats in most regards."
Culberson, the Republican congressman from Texas, however, expressed frustration with the current technology.
"I wish somebody would come up with a piece of social software that would allow a cloud of constituents to follow me in real-time and keep up with what I'm doing," he said.
"We'll get there," he added. "I'm confident somebody's going to develop an app."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Pentagon bracing for new WikiLeaks release AFP - 29 minutes ago
US-TECH Summary Reuters - 52 minutes ago
Facebook apps leak user information to tracking companies: WSJ Reuters - 53 minutes ago
Clearwire and Sprint set big city high-speed launches Reuters - Monday, October 18
Al-Qaeda reaches out armed with English, Internet AFP - Monday, October 18
News Search
Top Stories
Gene found to play key role in depression
US vows marijuana enforcement despite California vote
ECB warns on currency, calls for euro sanctions
Everton down Liverpool as new era starts with loss
Chile miners return to Camp Hope
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
Internet Portals & Search EnginesLatest development in the online world
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Time, like all good things, may come to an end: study
World's longest tunnel breaks down Swiss Alpine barrier
Iranian chocolate thief 'to have hand chopped off'
NESV seal acrimonious Liverpool takeover
Blonde or brunette? Celluloid rivals fight it out
More Most Viewed »
Time, like all good things, may come to an end: study
Too much TV psychologically harms kids: study
British lottery winner gets record 129 mln euros
Iranian chocolate thief 'to have hand chopped off'
Workers swarm Europe's streets in anti-cuts protests
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 18 October 2010 ECB warns on currency, calls for euro sanctions
Saudis say al Qaeda targeting France: minister
|
Iran arrests six Afghan military officers, soldier: report
Privacy a Facebook priority, says director Randi Zuckerberg
Saudis warn Europeans of terrorist threat: French minister
Syrian, Saudi leaders met to discuss Lebanon, Iraq
Everton down Liverpool as new era starts with loss
Pakistan PM plays down prospect of row with judges
|
France seeks to calm fuel fears as strike momentum builds
Iraq PM seeks regional support for new term
FBI Previously Alerted By Convicted Terrorist's Wives of 2008 Mumbai Massacre
Chile miners return to Camp Hope
Frozen Vegetables Recalled, May Have Glass Fragments
Israeli inquiry issues call for flotilla witnesses
Iran warns domestic media over opposition news
Afghan: Consult system on military ops not working
Iraq PM seeks regional support for new term
|
Syrian, Saudi leaders met to discuss Lebanon, Iraq
|
Over 100,000 evacuated in rain lashed Hainan: state media
Gunman kill 29 in Pakistan's Karachi as election held
Commonwealth Games chief rejects corruption claims
Zambia to charge Chinese mine bosses over shooting
Thai Red Shirts stage mass rally
Vietnam floods leave 14 dead as thousands evacuated
Pakistan political violence kills 21 in Karachi
Thai "red shirts" rally to demand leaders be freed
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"Jackass 3D" pranksters top box office a 3rd time
Roman soldiers, Celtic warriors re-enact battle
Pope Declares Six New Saints
Pope Announces First Australian Saint
Qatar School Bans Teachers from Getting Pregnant
Jackass daredevils top box office for third time
|
Actresses take center stage on Oscar watch list
|
Rush hour bomb kills three in Afghan city
France seeks to calm fuel fears as strike momentum builds
US-TECH Summary
Clearwire and Sprint set big city high-speed launches
Some private security firms to stay in Afghanistan
Little hope for miners in latest China disaster
|
Al-Qaeda reaches out armed with English, Internet
Gene found to play key role in depression
Bomb kills 3 Afghans; NATO detainee found dead
Mob attacks Kuwait TV station over royal "insult"
Skype and KDDI partner in Japan
US vows marijuana enforcement despite California vote
Setback for Brazil's Serra as Greens stay neutral
|
US office-seekers dip into digital toolkits as vote looms
Super typhoon hits Philippines
|
Gates: No sensitive info in WikiLeaks Afghan papers
German ministers slam Facebook for privacy glitch
Mob attacks Kuwait TV station over royal insult
|
Global Weather-Celsius
Privacy a Facebook priority, says director Randi Zuckerberg
Japan PM worried over safety of Japanese in China
|
Thai PM in court as party faces ban threat
PETA accused of exploiting filmmakers
China-Japan row simmers after street protests
Little hope for miners in latest China disaster
S.Korea says N.Korea's peace gestures not sincere
Japan PM wants China to ensure citizens' safety
Actresses take center stage on Oscar watch list
One dead as typhoon whips northern Philippines
Vienna Opera scores hit with 'Cardillac'
Japan PM's regret over China anti-Japan protests
Study predicts women in power, Muslims heading West
Clearwire and Sprint set big city high-speed launches
|
Stunt show 'Jackass' in 3D tackles box office
Super typhoon to hit north Philippines on Monday
Irish glass-making city shattered by economic crisis
Skype and KDDI partner in Japan
|
Strong storm heads for Philippines; thousands flee
IMF meets central bank chiefs in Shanghai
Italian animated film wins Anim'est award in Bucharest
Titanic survivor's tale of disaster sold at auction
US says Chinese firms ignoring Iran sanctions
Seoul shares slip amid caution; Hana Fin gains
Taiwan dlr gains limited as USD climbs after Bernanke
Global leaders mull joint governance ahead of G20
S.Korea c.bank plays down global economy double-dip risk
NZ inflation tame, no rush to raise rates
S.Korea bonds weaker; c.bank parliament audit eyed
S.Korea c.bank warns of more steps over FX debt
Seoul shares edge up as tech shares advance
Canadian cops probe Justin Bieber laser tag mishap
|
Jackass daredevils top box office for third time
|
Iraq PM Maliki in Iran as rival cries foul
RIM starts new Mideast services after escaping UAE ban
U.S. says Iran has a role in Afghan talks
|
Turkey begins trial of 151 pro-Kurdish politicians
IMF chief warns global recovery 'in peril' i
Apple's earnings to showcase one-two punch
Bin Laden 'living comfortably in Pakistan'
Cyber attacks, terrorism top UK threats: officials
|
Skype forms tie-up with Japan's KDDI
Iran's Khamenei calls for Iraqi government formation
|
Hilton Chicago Workers On Third Day Of Strike
Afghan gunmen kill 9 guards protecting NATO convoy
French protests intensify, government stands firm
|
First Footage From "Scream 4" Premieres At Spike TVs Scream Awards
Search Suspended For Missing FL Kayaker
Music streaming seen boosting mobile sales: study
Cracks appear in Chile miners' 'pact of silence'
|
Reporter Cuffed, Detained By Alaskan Senatorial Hopeful Guards
Iran says ready for nuclear talks if agenda clear
|
Facebook apps leak user information: report
Sally Field Opens Up About Her Life As An Empty Nester On "The Nate Berkus Show"
Pakistan party pressures government on Karachi violence
|
Moscow court jails three for Chechen murder
|
Pentagon braces for huge WikiLeaks dump on Iraq war
FDA Approves Botox For Migraine Treatment
Bombardier Unveils New Business Jets
Finnish firm finds hard-to-detect online attacks
Detainee in NATO Afghan custody found dead
|
Heart Association: CPR Change Starts With Chest Compressions
Myanmar's Suu Kyi wants to use Twitter after release
Facebook founder eyes China, faces death threats in Pakistan
Myanmar bars foreign monitors, media for election
Studies Downplay Risk Of Moderate Drinking By Pregnant Women
Breakthrough: Brain Surgery by Drilling Through The Nose
Thai PM Abhisit testifies in political funding case
Mumbai attacks gunman begins death sentence appeal
China Vice-President given key military posting
Jagger's ex rejects 'tiny todger' jibe
Gaza tunnellers turn former lifeline into export channel
China mine toll hits 31 as anger rises over rescue
China quake film tops Asia Pacific award nominations
Passion dominates piano competition on Chopin's bicentennial
Facebook apps leak user information: report
|
Cape Town city and graffiti artists face spray-off
Apple's earnings to showcase one-two punch
|
Indonesia to probe fresh torture claims: police
PETA accused of exploiting filmmakers
Cyber attacks, terrorism top UK threats: officials
|
Firms lose more to electronic than physical theft
|
Finnish firm finds hard-to-detect online attacks
|
Pakistani stocks, o/n rates end up; rupee flat
Neil Patrick Harris to direct romantic comedy
Canadian cops probe Justin Bieber laser tag mishap
RIM starts new Mideast services after escaping UAE ban
|
China aims for 'relatively fast' growth through 2015
Music streaming seen boosting mobile sales: study
|
Asian markets slip as Bernanke fails to lift sentiment
Pentagon braces for huge WikiLeaks dump on Iraq war
|
S.Korea's KEPCO wins $1.5 bln plant order for UAE
Wal-Mart, Gap to launch online stores in China
Cambodian state pay to jump under higher 2011 budget
S.Korea c.bank: not opting to control capital flows
US has 'double standards' in currency dispute: China
Actresses take center stage on Oscar watch list
|
Jolie wins permit back for Bosnian film
|
Bret Michaels hits reality road again
|
PETA accused of exploiting filmmakers
|
China quake film tops Asia Pacific award nominations
|
Neil Patrick Harris to direct romantic comedy
|
Kid Cudi putting his troubles behind
|
Firms lose more to electronic than physical theft
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