Date:17/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/17/stories/2007041702141100.htm

Opinion - News Analysis

MySpace hijacks the race for President

Dan Hancox

THE VOTERS of Iowa and New Hampshire have a right to feel a little peeved. They take great pride in turning the ignition key for presidential bandwagons every four years, as the first stages in the primary process that selects America's candidates. But now the website MySpace is threatening to steal their thunder, announcing that it will "give America its first presidential primary winner" with a vote on January 1-2, 2008.

Given that almost 65 million Americans visit MySpace every month, of whom 85 per cent are of voting age, this will be the mother of all straw polls, setting the tone for the entire selection campaign.

The candidates' campaign teams have already set up profile pages, promoting policy statements, selling merchandise, and encouraging networking among supporters. MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe insists excitably that its entry into the political arena will "ignite involvement in the political process."

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2007