Howard Dean knows the power of the Internet. As a candidate in 2004, he showed how it could turn a virtual unknown into a presidential contender.

The man who launched the Internet revolution in presidential politics says the medium has changed politics into a two-way conversation between voters and candidates.

"Technology is traveling so fast; now it has transformed American politics. It's beginning to advance politics by getting ordinary Americans back in the process. Before, there was a one-way campaign where candidates talked to voters; now we have a two-way campaign," said Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Dean and others who attended last week's CNN-YouTube debate say the Internet has had a profound effect on politics - changing the way voters get information about candidates, the way campaigns are organized and fund-raising.

Krystal Fields, a staffer with Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign, believes young people will become more vocal in this election cycle as a result of the rising importance of the Web. "It will increase dramatically," she said.

Campaign Web sites have a number of features for those interested in learning more about candidates and becoming involved.

On Sen. John McCain's Web site, one can access a multitude of videos about the Arizona senator. Those videos range from the story of his service and capture during the Vietnam War to his recent announcement tour in South Carolina.

Supporters can also set up a personal McCain Space page, which mimics MySpace.com, where they can organize people and raise money for the campaign.

Sen. Chris Dodd's site has live, streaming video of his campaign stops. Dodd did a follow-up on his Web site after last Monday's debate to address issues that he did not get to address during the debate.

Web surfers can log on to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's site to watch MittTV, which has video of speeches and commercials for Romney. The newest speech has Romney speaking against former North Carolina Sen. John Edward's proposed tax plan.

Sen. Hillary Clinton launched her campaign via her Web site, which included a series of interactive question-and-answer sessions with voters. Peter Dau, director of Internet for the Clinton campaign, said the real-time conversations were unprecedented and that the campaign will continue to add more interactive items to its Internet repertoire.

Jeff Parcher, senior communications director for New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's campaign, says the use of the Internet coincides well with the grassroots style of Richardson's campaign. Right now, the site is having a contest seeking the best energy-saving ideas. The winner of that contest will meet Richardson.

The Web has also changed the way campaigns are organized. This prong of the campaign was once handled by state and national headquarters. Now, those channels have expanded to include nearly everyone who chooses to be a part of a campaign.

"It's a lot more than talking at people. They are pursuing their own actions in taking ownership of the campaign," said Joe Rospars, national Internet director for Sen. Barack Obama's camp.

People are taking ownership of various campaigns by establishing personal MySpace or Facebook pages for candidates. This provides supporters with an arena in which to blog and organize support, and even plan their own events in support of a candidate.

They are also posting various YouTube videos in support of candidates or, in some cases, criticizing them.

The most controversial YouTube video to date was one created by an Obama supporter who attacked Clinton by parodying a 1984 Apple Computer commercial. A few more clicks away on YouTube, browsers can find McCain singing Barbra Streisand songs or Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, spoofing the series finale of "The Sopranos." These videos have been viewed thousands of times and, in some cases, several hundred thousand.

Last week, YouTubers actually took over the Democratic presidential debate in Charleston. More than 3,000 people submitted questions for the candidates in that debate.

While only a handful were picked, it illustrates the tremendous role the Internet is having in this election.

U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said, "I think YouTube did great wonders. These people are voters, I think it's good

The Internet has also changed fund-raising. Last quarter, the McCain campaign raised $1.3 million from Internet contributions.

"Fund-raising has definitely been revolutionized by the Internet. We're definitely taking advantage of that," said B.J. Boling, S.C. communications director for the McCain Campaign.

The campaign that perhaps is taking the most advantage of the Internet as a means of fund-raising is Obama's. In the last quarter alone, that campaign garnered $17.2 million from online contributions, according to Rospars.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

You must be logged in to comment.