Four years ago, Barack Obama kicked off his presidential campaign on the steps of Illinois’ Old State Capitol, speaking in front of thousands of supporters and a throng of media. Earlier this month, when he formally announced his reelection campaign, he did so without public appearance, in an online video.The shift in part represents the difference between the candidacies, from one starring an upstart challenger to one featuring an incumbent president. But it also underscores how dramatically social media have become a defining force in modern-day politics.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-social-media-20110418,0,3160762.story
Twitter, Facebook and YouTube now crucial to presidential campaigns
Four years ago, Barack Obama kicked off his presidential campaign on the steps of Illinois’ Old State Capitol, speaking in front of thousands of supporters and a throng of media. Earlier this month, when he formally announced his reelection campaign, he did so without public appearance, in an online video.