[justsaynomore]

10 years ago, TV and radio would have been all you heard about that candidate. Thank goodness for the internet and social media - people are able to pull from a variety of sources and make their own decisions.

Imagine before, being able to read a candidate’s writing, or hear his speeches or check his stances on issues... It’s pretty incredible. I think it’s funny too, that the two oldest candidates are the two that use the new technology the best.

Like this posted on Cain’s FB today: Have questions about the 9-9-9 Plan? Text Cain999 to 90210! Please share this with your friends!

[America_Right]

I think it’s funny too, that the two oldest candidates are the two that use the new technology the best.

Remember, Cain is not only a rocket scientist, but a computer scientist, as well. :)

[fightinJAG]

Imagine before, being able to read a candidate’s writing, or hear his speeches or check his stances on issues... It’s pretty incredible. I think it’s funny too, that the two oldest candidates are the two that use the new technology the best

I don't get how these pundits, pollsters and professional analysts miss this!

They are no longer the gatekeepers. Cain, for example, has a huge archive of columns, talk radio transcripts, speeches etc. available for any voter to read, post and start a widespread discussion over.

We haven't a candidate with this kind of record of his actual thoughts, analysis and philosophy of governing available to one and all to see, DIRECTLY, with no media filter, no less, in history.

They haven't fully appreciated what it means that each person in their audience now has some ability to fact-check what they say -- or to find the links to back up an opposing viewpoint. This also means that voters are essentially doing their own vetting of candidates.

When Cain gives a speech in TN, for example, because there is so much interest in him, hundreds of thousands of people throughout the US see the clip on the internet and end up watching the entire speech. Then talking about it, not only with friends and neighbors, but with thousands of people, again spread throughout the U.S., in forums such as FR.

That trumps having the little ladies lined up to go door-to-door handing our brochures and asking you to vote for so-and-so any day! And these days people aren't home, nor do they want to open the door anyway! So it's pretty funny to hear many of these people still talking about an old-style "ground game."