While social media may have played a large role in the 2008 US presidential election, it’s safe to say we haven’t seen anything yet.
The 2012 presidential election campaign has already kicked off for some – including US President Barack Obama – and the social media landscape is clearly shaping up to be a place where the election could be seriously impacted if not ultimately decided.
Shortly after Monday’s announcement from President Obama stating that he will seek reelection next year, a full slate of possible presidential contenders stepped up to the social media plate to respond.
From Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor, responding to Obama with a barrage of YouTube and Facebook content, to former (and likely future) presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s direct Twitter message to President Obama, social media is fusing itself to the American political process like we’ve never seen before.
Many political scientists believe that the remainder of 2011 will see a breakneck effort on the part of presidential hopefuls to amass as many Twitter followers and social media fans as possible ahead of a robust campaign season that will begin in earnest after the 2011 holidays.
