A recent Pew Internet and American Life Project report titled “The Internet and the 2008 Election” states that a record-breaking 46% of Americans have used the internet, email or cell phone text messaging to get news about the campaign, share their views and mobilize others. And Barack Obama’s backers have an edge in the online political environment. 35% of Americans say they have watched online political videos–a figure that nearly triples the reading the Pew Internet Project got in the 2004 race.
One thing I found interesting about this report is that it found that Democrats are more positive about the role of the internet. Online Democrats are more likely to say the internet helps them feel connected to their candidates and the campaign. In contrast to online Republicans, both independents and Democrats who use the internet are more likely to agree with the statement, “I would not be as involved in this campaign as much if it weren’t for the internet.” One-quarter of online independents (26%) and Democrats (23%) subscribe to that view, versus 16% of Republicans.