What Clicks With Voters Online
The campaign Wikiwar rages on -- with supporters and critics of candidates flocking to the write-it-yourself online encyclopedia.
On YouTube, you can measure popularity by the number of total views that a candidate's channel and videos get. On MySpace, you can look at the number of "friends" a candidate has. And on Wikipedia, you can go to Compete.com, the online market research firm that's compiling the number of people visiting each of the candidate's Wiki entries.
Last month, during the days of the Iowa Straw poll, the Wiki entries of the GOP contenders increased their total readership. The Wiki page of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who placed second in the straw poll, experienced the biggest bump. His entry was read by 14,497 people in August, up 314 percent from July. "Wikipedia is one barometer of interest in a particular candidate. Take Huckabee as an example. Voters are giving him a first look, if not a second look, on his Wikipedia entry," said Matt Pace, director of new markets at Compete.
The Wiki page of Fred Thompson, who was still in his "testing-the-waters" phase and skipped the straw poll event altogether, dropped 37 percent in Wiki visitors. Even with that drop, some 15,200 people read Thompson's Wiki entry in August, more than the tallies for Sen. John McCain and Sen. Sam Brownback.
Rep. Ron Paul, who's got a loyal Internet following, continues to lead the rest of the Republican field in terms of grassroots Internet support. Paul's entry had the top readership in August, Republican or Democrat. According to Compete, roughly 50,400 unique visitors read his article -- more than Sen. Hillary Clinton and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani combined.
-- Jose Antonio Vargas
Posted at 2:00 PM ET on Sep 17, 2007
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Comments
Posted by: mickrussom | September 18, 2007 2:25 AM | Report abuse
Ron Paul is "clicking" with voters offline, too. 44,000 have signed up to meet in real life and promote his candidacy, in local Meetup groups. He is drawing the largest crowds of any Republican candidate.
On his recent West Coast trip, Ron Paul spoke to 700+ in LA, 1200+ in Seattle, and 1000+ in Utah, while holding numerous well-attended fundraising events. His support is real, and motivated.
Posted by: drd6000 | September 17, 2007 4:34 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
I say this with all seriousness. The country will probably disintegrate and be carved up the Chinese if Ron Paul does not win. It will take time, but we are on the road to perdition.
America needs Ron Paul more than ever, and everyone who supports Ron Paul loves him as he is the closest thing to family we have ever seen in government.
Ron Paul, for what is just, what is right, and what is our Nation's root modus, the Constitution and Freedom and Liberty for All.
Think for yourself, question authority.
One of my favorite quotes about Dr. Paul, "You're working for the most honest man in Congress." That was John McCain speaking to Kent Snyder in 1988.
Ron Paul is a constitutionalist.
Ron has never voted to raise taxes.
Ron has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
Ron has never voted for the Iraq War.
Ron has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
Ron has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
Ron has never voted to raise congressional pay.
Ron has never taken a government-paid junket.
Ron voted against the Patriot Act.
Ron votes against regulating the Internet.
Ron voted against NAFTA and CAFTA.
Ron votes against the United Nations.
Ron votes against the welfare state.
Ron votes against reinstating a military draft.
Ron votes to preserve the constitution.
Ron votes to cut government spending.
Ron votes to lower healthcare costs.
Ron votes to end the war on drugs.
Ron votes to protect civil liberties.
Ron votes to secure our borders with real immigration reform.
Ron votes to eliminate tax funded abortions and to overturn Roe v Wade.
Ron votes to protect religious freedom.