Partnering with a web-based
media property for the first time, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD)
has authorised the launching of MyDebates.org,
a political social networking platform rolled out by MySpace especially for the
2008 United States Presidential election.
The central feature of the
new site is a widget that can be downloaded to stream, archive and tag live
debates during the campaign. The
exchanges stored will be searchable for future reference. Users will also be able to take part in polls
and follow the evolution of the candidates? position on a variety of key
issues. The first instalment of the
official campaign is a debate between the presidential candidates on 26
September, to be followed by a vice presidential debate on 2 October.
The initiative is the
latest episode in a series undertaken since the beginning of the '08 electoral
process through non-partisan politics site "MySpace Impact". These have included a register-to-vote contest targeted at indie bands, a citizen-journalism competition in partnership with MSNBC, an NBC
News-powered election site, and several polls.
A series of candidate
"dialogues" was also held in conjunction with MTV.
The event is yet another
sign of social net working?s political coming of age since Howard Dean?s
pioneering use of Meetup.com in his unsuccessful bid to become the democratic
candidate for the Presidential election of 2004.