Additional Resources
The Political Advocacy Groups database, sponsored by Washington State University, is a comprehensive database of many key interest groups in the American political game.
The Pew Internet & American Life Project is a fantastic resource for information about the Internet and its effect on many areas of life, including American politics. Take this study, for example: The Internet is Playing a Growing Role in Politics
The Federal Elections Committee (FEC) has a great interactive website disclosing contributions made during the 2008 primary and presidential election. The site breaks down contributions made by state to candidates, parties, PACs, etc.
Below is a video discussing Obama’s use of the Internet in the primary campaigns:
Here are some additional articles concerning social media and politics:
Media Watch: Politicians Can Make Effective Use of Social Media | Utah Policy
How Nassau County Politicians Are Using Social Media to Reach Constituents
State Legislators’ Perceptions of the Use of E-mail in Constituent Communication
As Politicians Adopt Social Media, They Bump Into the Law | New Media Rights
Politicians using Twitter: Morons or visionaries? | csmonitor.com
Below are links in which you can learn more about how the internet has evolve to be medicine for minor candidates and their campaigns.
Article One: Internet’s Broader Role in Campaign 2008: Social Networking and Online Videos Take Off
Article Two: The Internet’s Role in Political Campaigns
Article Four: The internet gains in politics
Article Five: Politics Faces Sweeping Change via the Web
In all the above five articles, each one testifies in different way that the internet is/will be a place where politics will be played in the future. This is good news for any candidates, specially minor candidates, since they dont have the fiancial means to compete in the traditional ways of campaigning. Also, they dont have the Mass meida exposure that major candidates get from the day in which they declare running for office. All in all, this helps greatly on minor candidates who are in search of making in roads in this bi-polar major candidate media dominated politics.
