Campaigns not buying social media

How effective new media can be for candidates looking to convert an online presence to a victory on Election Day, however, is still a subject for debate.

Some believe that while effective Twitter or Facebook accounts can make candidates more approachable, they also can make politicians into more polarizing figures.

The prime example discussed at the event, titled “Going Viral: How Campaigns Are Using Social Media,” was Sarah Palin, who has the ability to drive a news cycle with a 140-character tweet or drive a policy conversation by tapping out a Facebook note, as she did last year when she wrote of “death panels” during the debate over health care reform.

By tweeting, Palin — who often gets taken to task by the media for making errors in her casual notes to followers — is able to preserve and build support from fans who care more about her approachability than her accuracy. Just last week, Palin accidentally tweeted that John Raese was from Pennslyvania, when he actually is running for the U.S. Senate in West Virginia.

“She’s definitely more likely to be the Republican nominee for president but less likely to actually be president,” said Matthew Hindman, GW assistant professor of media and public affairs.