Maryam Scoble has let slip a secret in her year-end tribute to he husband . So I guess I am released from my vows and can repeat that Robert is headed to New Orleans where he has been invited to join a planeload of bloggers at the John Edwards announcement that he will be a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. We hope Robert makes it, since a snag at Oakland caused him to miss his flight.
It seems to me these days that wherever I look in the blogoshere, there's a politician. I ran into David Cameron, an opposition candidate for British Prime minister six weeks ago on the streets of Edinburgh Scotland. When I was in Canada, Michaelle Jean, the governor general started a blog. Two days ago, I announced my new book would have a chapter covering politicians and social media. Since then, I stumbled on Tom Delay's blog and now Edwards embraces a band of bloggers as he steps into the longshot position of the residential race.
Over in France, rumors persist that Loic LeMeur will step out of Six Apart and into a French presidential campaign. The fact that he's the best known blogger in France must have something to do with it.
What's going on here? Simple. That's where the voters are going, particularly the ones who will decide close campaigns in several large democracies. Young voters can be found there, because online has become a primary source of information for them over TV or newspapers.
Older voters get their information from traditional sources, but very often a majority of them go into elections already decided. Politicos are smart to ask for their support and money. The young may not have the money and they may not have loyalty to one party over another. But they are going t be around in most cases, a lot longer than their parents will be.
My hope is that government and elected officials will come en masse to the blogosphere. I'm sure they will come in awkwardly at first, using much of the same rhetoric they use everywhere else. But over time, some of them might learn the real power of social media is not just talking, but listening.
In fact, blogging and social media, may be the most blatantly democratic format we've seen come along since the New England-style town meeting.
Comments