twitter politics The 2008 Election Twitter Stats Twitter

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The 2008 Election

Twitter Stats

Twitter Updates 8 Jan 2007 14 Nov 2007 29 Apr 2007 5 Nov 2008 13 Jan 2008 30 Oct 2008 19 Sept 2008 24 Oct 2008

Updates: Tech • Edwards: all posts from phone; (staff) posts from web • Obama: all posts from the web • Clinton: all posts from the web • Mc. Cain: all posts from Twitterfeed

Updates: Style • Edwards - personal, from the candidate (“I”); exceptions noted • Obama - clearly campaign updates, announcements in the main • Clinton - personal, from the candidate (“I”); exceptions in third person • Mc. Cain - clearly feed (Twitterfeed)

Edwards • • I've committed to visiting the town with the most demands on eventful. com, demand a visit in your town at: http: //tinyurl. com/24 dyxm 4: 38 AM Jun 21 st, 2007 from txt On my way to Finley hospital in Dubuque, Iowa to talk with nurses and local SEIU members. Then I'm off to a community meeting in Montice. . . 10: 02 AM Nov 14 th, 2007 from txt

Clinton • Attempting to connect with people? • • • I’m in Columbia S. C. for a rally with voters and a roundtable with South Carolina women. 12: 54 PM Jan 13 th, 2008 from web I need your help in Indiana and North Carolina – make calls and reach out to voters! http: //tools. hillaryclinton. . . 8: 17 AM May 5 th, 2008 from web Thank You West Virginia! 4: 42 PM May 13 th, 2008 from web

Obama • Mostly one-way mass announcements (262) • 201 posts: “where am I? ” • 27 posts: “call to action” • 24 posts: “announcements” • 13 posts expressed an emotion

Obama Examples • • Launching Obama Mobile text messaging; text 'GO' to OBAMA (62262) to get a free bumper sticker. 6: 53 PM Jun 19 th, 2007 from web In Casper, WY at a town hall meeting & heading to Laramie. Remind all your friends in Wyoming to caucus tomorrow. http: //WY. Barack. Obama. com 11: 25 AM Mar 7 th, 2008 from web

Obama Post-Hillary • Calls to action increased • Announcements included link to “watch live” or “watch recording” • In Unity, NH. Heading to a rally with Senator Clinton. Watch this event live now on cable news or at http: //my. barackobama. com/l. . . 10: 18 AM Jun 27 th, 2008 from web

QOTD: Why did 165, 000 people sign up to get messages that were the equivalent of adverts. . . in a space where participants value “real” human interaction?

CC License: share&share alike, attribution, non-commercial • Kathy Gill • http: //faculty. washington. edu/kegill • @kegill, @kegill_us • Images: Twitter. com logo, Uncle. Sam from http: //test. mla. lib. mi. us/files/images/Uncl e. Sam_2. gif