WICHITA — Inspired by Barack Obama’s successful presidential run, nearly all major political campaigns are using social sites on the Internet to connect with voters, raise money and win elections. Wichita State University communications expert Lou Heldman said virtually every candidate has a Facebook account, a Twitter account and an account on Youtube. Candidates love Web-based channels because they can control the message without going through traditional media outlets, he said. They can put out their schedules, fundraising appeals, press statements, all of the things that used to have to go through traditional media; they’re now distributing directly through the Web, he said. Heldman says candidates can react instantly to changing circumstances or to their opponents through their Web sites. Instead of waiting weeks to prepare and run television commercials, candidates can be on Youtube within minutes, using a low-cost video rig, he said. However, there are two major drawbacks to Web campaigns, Heldman said. One is that candidates’ Web efforts are reaching people who have agree with the candidates and don’t reach large numbers of undecided voters. The other is that it’s easy to create fake sites, he said. One of the candidates in the 4th District Congressional race in south-central Kansas has been plagued by fake activity on Twitter by opponents who have created fake sites using his name. The old standbys of broadcast advertising and direct mail still remain the most dominant way to reach the most voters, Heldman said.
Wednesday, July 28, 4 p.m.
