So long days of dial-up

The 2008 election is not only unique for having the first black male candidate for the Democratic Party and first female running mate for the Republican Party, no this election is by far one of the most exciting and interactive. The role of the web is colossal. It has changed the playing field immensely.

Now the media has taken a backseat to the interactive realm the web has created for the everyday public. Bloggers write their opinions, I-reporters post their stories and everyday people can find facts about candidates with a click of a mouse. Anything from their stance on war or abortion to meaningless how their favorite foods make them the people they are.

The internet is also making it possible for young people to care more about the election.

According to Next Web WebTipr "The internet has become a leading source of campaign news for young Americans. 42% of those ages 18 to 29 say they regularly learn about the campaign from the internet. In 2004, only 20% of this demographic group said that they got such news from the internet."

Networking sites like facebook, twitter, youtube and myspace play just as large a role for a young audience as well with profiles and interactive ways for users to discusses and get informed about the candidates and election. These sites allow users to campaign and brand the candidate with facebook groups like "

Other web sites like Hitwise are taking a leap into guessing which candidate might win the election by monitoring web traffic on candidate's web sites.

The days of reading the paper and listening to radio or even watching tv to gather information and knowledge on the election are fleeting. Anyone with an internet connection can now delve into the complex world of politics for themselves and "rock the vote" based on the candidate's political platforms or their preferred fabric softener.

Image courtesy of: thenextweb.org