Echoing pundits and analysts on both sides of the aisle, let me say for the record that it remains to be seen if Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's 100,000+ online friends, followers, subscribers, and supporters from his LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Twitter viral marketing campaigns actually go out and vote on Election Day.
But you know what? It doesn't really matter if Obama's followers vote.
Any American kid old enough to drive a car is using the internet and probably has a Facebook account, let alone a cellphone. Do you wanna guess how many of them are following Obama, whether on FB or through text messaging? They may know nothing about the man nor his platform (and they may not care to know that, either) but they know he's online and accessible. The kids probably don't even care Obama doesn't respond. But he's there.
And if the kids are noticing this, do you want to guess how many are telling their friends or their parents they are "following that guy who's on the paper every day?"
Until recently, John McCain was noticeably absent. But, the Republican senator is David to Obama's Goliath.
Unlike biblical times, though, McCain cannot beat Obama with technology. McCain is hopeless to try.
The blogosphere and twittersphere (and I'm not even talking about Facebook and other social networks) are talking about politics and technology - and the mainstream media is taking notice.
Is it any surprise to you that within days of each other in early September, Business Week published an article, "How Companies Use Twitter to Bolster Their Brands" and CIO Magazine published "Twitter for Business: Four Ways Companies Use Microblogging?"
Where does this lead us? Did you see Wednesday night's debate?
During a pivotal moment, Obama said, "We are going to invest in information technology to eliminate bureaucracy and make the system more efficient."
What I'm about to share with you is something you won't hear on CNN or read in any morning papers.
Here's what some Twitter users (stereotypically wage earners over the age of 25) wrote in 140 characters or less in the seconds after Obama's statement. Including mine, of course:
It's fair to guess that of the 2 million+ Twitter users worldwide, maybe 50%, maybe 10%, I have no idea what percent, watched the debate. But a significant chunk either did, or will see snippets over the next 24 hours. And then they will also tweet. Or add comments to Obama's various viral campaign sites. Maybe people will message McCain, too.
Fact is people are talking and people online "get" information technology. Fact is Obama "gets" information technology. Fact is McCain, whether or not "he" gets it, isn't saying it. His response to Obama's IT reference was about medical health records, which he admitted the VA already does.
McCain is not with the times and the twittersphere hates him.
Where do you stand?
You can see my original blog article at AriWriter.