MySpace, MTV to offer candidate chats

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Lecterns are so 2004. In the latest chapter of new Web-empowered debates and interaction with presidential candidates, social networking site MySpace and MTV will bring together 2008 hopefuls and young voters for real-time online conversations.

The announced front-running candidates of both parties will participate, each holding individual dialogues with voters. Voters can instant-message, e-mail or text their questions in real-time during the events, which will be webcast live on MTV.com and MySpaceTV.com.

To be held September through December, the 11 dialogues will each last about one hour and include real-time polling that rates the online audience's response to the candidates' answers. During their chats, candidates will typically be located on college campuses.

"This is not a debate," said MTV spokesman Ian Rowe. "Each one of these dialogues is an opportunity for young people both on a college campus — as well as millions watching via a live stream on MySpace and MTV.com — to have a one-on-one, direct, unfiltered conversation with each candidate."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070823/ap_on_en_ot/myspace_mtv_presidential_dialogues