What are the effects of internet campaigning and is it helping voter become more involved/educated?

While traditional media still holds vast power in the political arena, internet campaigning has a unique aspect, which “candidates have discovered [it to be] an indispensable means of reaching out to their core constituents” (Cagle 2). This realization has not only increased electorate interest in politics, but has also made voters feel more involved in the process. “Candidates are taking advantage of a whole raft of ‘political software’ that emerged after 2004, and because of the two way nature of the web, increasingly the candidates are able to more effectively communicate with his or her potential constituency, which in turn lessens the impact that both special interest groups and professional consultants have on the candidate” (2). Reliance on electronic media has shifted from traditional media such as television and talk radio due to the directness of the Internet. More effective communication with constituencies is leading voters to feel more engaged with less apathy. The fact that the Internet has reduced the ideology of the political machine, voters again are more included in government policy than ever before.

The Internet has also had the effect of changing a politician’s entire campaign from nothing into something. A major example of this is the campaign of Howard Dean in the 2004 presidential election. “Former Vermont governor Howard Dean went from obscurity to front-runner almost overnight” because of internet advertising and contributions (VandeHei A4).

Source:
Cagle, Kurt. "Internet Politics." 04 Aug. 2006. O'Reilly Network. http://www.oreillynet.com.
Vandehei, Jim. "From the Internet to the White House." Washington Post 31 May 2006, sec. A: 4.