Democratic candidates see the light: the Internet (all would appoint a White House blogger)

[Kadie]

Democratic candidates see the light: the Internet
By Andrew Stern
1 hour, 4 minutes ago


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Every U.S. presidential candidate has a Web site, of course, but when the top Democratic hopefuls were asked on Saturday whether they would appoint a White House blogger if elected, all of them said yes.

The candidates' impromptu show of hands at a convention organized by the leading Internet forum for liberal-minded writers on the Internet, DailyKos.com, was tangible evidence of the Web's increasing political sway.

"The Internet is not just a platform for raising money and organizing, it's for everything. Any campaign that isn't using it is lagging behind," said Robert Gibbs, an adviser to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's campaign.

Many political analysts say the "blogosphere" has injected a more populist sentiment into the eight-way race to become the Democratic nominee next year.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards' campaign has been particularly aggressive, with the candidate's wife, Elizabeth, recently telling The New York Times: "The Internet is the principal way we are communicating with voters right now."

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070804/ts_nm/usa_politics_blogs_dc_2