The virtual primaries

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. -- As if there weren't enough real-world primaries going on, the folks at MySpace and Facebook have been holding their own online primaries, as our colleague David Sarno writes in today's Calendar section. And while the online primaries are as meaningless as the Michigan Democratic primary, the results are interesting.

Any online poll -- and that's what these "virtual primaries" are -- relies on self-selected, and self-activated, participants. So the 150,000 people who took part in the MySpace primary reflect no meaningful political base. Near as we can figure, voters didn't even have to prove they were old enough, or a U.S. citizen. The results, though, indicate where the loyalties lie among that self-selected group of Internet users.

And there were no surprises. On the Democratic side, Barack Obama -- whose support is heavy among left-leaning upper-middle-class Democrats -- took 46% compared to 31% for Hillary Rodham Clinton and 8% for John Edwards. Among the Republicans, Ron Paul's net-revolutionaries clicked mightily, giving him 36% to Rudy Giuliani's 18% and Mike Huckabee's 16%.

In the real primaries and caucuses, Obama won Iowa and Clinton won New Hampshire. On the Republican side, Paul has barely figured in the final outcomes: Huckabee won Iowa and McCain -- who didn't place well at all in the online primary -- won New Hampshire. The MySpace results also contradict national preference polls. As indicators, the virtual primaries just aren't there.

So what lessons do such polls offer? First, sites like MySpace are keen to tie into political activism, and these polls have more to do with marketing and branding than with elections. But look beyond the vote breakdown and you get a glimpse of social and political networking.  Political strategists have learned that the Internet is a great organizing and fundraising tool, able to move information to people quickly, and to provide an easily-accessed base of information on everything from events to how to get lawn signs.

But in the end, it's just a place to do a little research and have a detached conversation. Sure, you can rally the faithful there, but campaign strategists know that person-to-person contact is the best way to build a movement. Otherwise, why have all these offices?

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Dan ~ Longview, WA.]

There just are not enough news tidbits about Mitt Romney, HIllary Clinton, Barak Obama, Rudy Giulianni, Fred Thompson, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, and John Edwards.

I am really interested in hearing about the cantidates points of view, but I hardly ever see any news about them! But…when I do, it's always negative, condemning, or immature, like name calling and belittling.

Why don't you cover these cantidates like you cover Ron Paul?

I have heard so much about him, I know right where he stands. I know he filters decisions through the Constitution of the United States of America. I know he believes that the war in Iraq was a mistake to start with, that he was right from the beginning by voting against it, and that he wants to bring the troops home now. I know that he wants us all to be able to keep the money we earn, and abolish the IRS. I know that he respects individual liberty and the right to do as one chooses. I know that he fully supports the 2nd ammendment. I know he says we shouldn't be so worried about Iran, that we should trade with them.

But what about the other guys?

What do they think about the war in Iraq? What do the think about Iran, should we nuke them and be done, or bomb the hell out of all of the civilians? I would like to know who they plan on killing before I vote for them.

Please, just tell us cantidate by cantidate how many lives they will take so I can make an informed decision.

I already know where Ron Paul stands.

Please watch this video from an Iraq war veteran to support the troops.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI0keH8sKHs

Thank you!
Dan

[jamaku]

what you surpress is the fact all these clicks represent real people. they may not get there way now, but some day they will. revolotion can hardly be expected through the system, it will be outside the system...think about that!

[Brad]

Dan,

You wont hear about the other candidates positions because they do not talk about them with any substance.

Ron Paul is the only transparent candidate.

Ron Paul is the only one of them to voice a stand an any issue.

Huckabee has co-opted many of Ron Pauls stands since the race began, although he is just pandering. His record is more socialist.

Romney is good for economics but probably not much else.

McCain is more Bush policy.

Rudy is Worse than Bush policy.

Fred Thompson is more of the same just with less enthusiasm.

All of them except Ron Paul want more War and are set to Invade Iran.

John Edwards talks a good game but is a corporate lawyer with allegiance to the same.

Hillary is just like Rudy with forced Social Programs that she will not be participating in.

Obama is a good guy but stands for more socialism.

If we are to save our country my vote is with Ron Paul.

Ron Paul talks logic and reason to the questions of issue and position; the others do not.

[Henry Warren II]

More shots at Ron Paul. How about the LA Times asks some questions about McCain's judgment during the SC debates? Did McCain's racist comments seem off-color? Matter in fact, John McCain was blatantly racist in the SC debate, read it here:
http://www.nolanchart.com/article1084.html

Unfortunately it took segregationist Governor Wallace to reveal the truth that "there's not a dime's worth of difference between" Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats willingly went along with the War in Iraq, suspension of Habeas Corpus, detaining protesters, banning books like "America Deceived' from Amazon, stealing private lands (Kelo decision), warrant-less wiretapping and refusing to investigate 9/11 properly. They are both guilty of treason.
Support Dr. Ron Paul and save this great nation.

[Sascha]

Ah, if only the revolution could be accomplished at home, comfortably, in pajama, just clicking away in front of a screen, with a warm beer and a cold pizza...
But no, as long as an obsolete and entrenched political system will force people to dress up and get out to vote, driving all the way to a polling station in a dirty, unfriendly place, there'll be no real political change in the United States...
What a pity...

[duane]

I say Yo and Amen to Brad's Post ! Go Ron Paul !!!