Is the web important in the US elections?

what do you think

[RonPK]

I guess most of you will have noticed there's an election coming up. It's been all over the news for weeks if not months, here in Europe.
I'm wondering whether the 10 year old WWW has become really important in the whole election process, so I'd like to ask the American members some questions:

* do you use the web as a source of information & opinions during the current campaign?
* if so, what kind of sites are relevant? Newspaper sites, TV network sites, the candidates' sites, forums, ...?
* in general, do you feel the web plays a major role in the campaign, or are 'old media' still more influential?

[Macguru]

WARNING

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OK, this seems like a perfectly legitimate topic, but lets all keep in mind we dont do politics here in WebmasterWorld.

Lets try to make sure we are on the 'smile mode' before replying in this thread, stay on original topic, and avoid current political specifics.

Thanks in advance ;)

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My opinion is not relevant here, since I am not a USA citizen.

[lgn1]

My opinion is not relevant here, since I am not a USA citizen.

You be surprized how relevent Canadians consider the US election. For a day job, I work for the Canadian Federal Government, and you be surprized how many people are wearing buttons for a particular presidential candidate.
[ Yes Canadian Public Servants are impartial, but only when it comes to our own country politics]

[Teknorat]

I think that the "old media" still has by far the greatest influence. The web is still very much a for those who have made up their minds and will not be moved come hell or high water. However it is useful in reaffirming political ideals and thus increasing the voter turn out. The blogs and political sites are really a rallying call "Come and vote you know we're right!"

[vkaryl]

RonPK:

I have no idea. I make up my mind based on some fairly nebulous things (what does A think about women's issues? what does B think about welfare?), and I don't pay any attention to hype from anyone from anywhere.

I don't talk politics with anyone I know, including my husband. It's one of those "don't go there" things.

I pay a lot more attention to local politics and the Senate and House races. They are actually FAR more relevant to me personally and professionally than the figurehead-of-the-US race.

[Edit to remove some probably "not quite legal" stuff.... y'know, even for the apolitical like me, it's hard to stay on the "right side of the line"!]

[grandpa]

The news on the web is about my only source of information. We don't subscribe to a newspaper here, and the TV remote is out of my hands. Sports and politics are all but banned on the tube. Sure, I can run across the street and get a paper everyday... as long as I have 50 cents in my hand. And most newspapers are politically biased, depending upon the editor-in-chief. So I'd have to get newspapers from several sources to read the different bias.

On the web I read transcripts of the debates. I can read the other articles and form my own opinions. In short, without the web I would really be in the dark about the discussions at hand. (That's not to say that I don't have an opinion already)

[RonPK]

Thx all for the replies. Good luck next week!

[Essex_boy]

Are the US elections important to teh web?

Are any candidates promising to 'clean it up' etc?