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Posted by Kate Butler Jan 23, 2007 |
The news this weekend that Hillary Clinton is going to run for presidency of the United States in 2008 has galvanized opponents and supporters. Media stories this week are inevitably tied to her decision, and this barrage of Hillary news is likely to continue, albeit in waves, until she either wins the Democratic nomination, or falters and loses along the way.
Like Barack Obama and John Edwards, Clinton chose to announce her candidacy via video on the internet, an increasingly popular way to let one’s supporters know, en masse, of one’s decisions (as we have seen in both the political world, as well as the celebrity one). Republican’s are also getting in on the internet politics craze: presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani has been joined by e-campaign expert Patrick Ruffini, an integral part of Bush’s 2004 re-election group, who recently signed on to the former New York City mayor’s bid.
Hillary has been hitting the talk-show circuit over the last few days to discuss her bid for President, and the role her husband will play in the process. One of the huge advantages enjoyed by Ms. Clinton is the fact that by merely announcing that she intends to run, all the major news networks are more than happy to have her on as a guest, as she is already a national figure of interest.
Today in the Washington Post, one of Clinton’s political adversaries, Liz Cheney (daughter of Vice-President Dick Cheney), uses Clinton’s candidacy to criticize Democrats and Republicans alike for wanting to reduce troop levels in Iraq. While it is possible that Ms. Cheney might have written this opinion piece regardless of the Hillary announcement, it certainly gives her article a catchy lead-in.
Watching how Hillary Clinton, and the other 2008 contenders, use the media in their attempts to win over the American people will be interesting. Check back here next month for an update on how U.S. presidential hopefuls are being represented in the media, and how they are using technology to further their aspirations.