The Role of Online Video Leading up to Super Tuesday

San Diegans along with voters in more than 20 states are headed to the polls tomorrow for the Super Tuesday primary elections. Only four years ago bloggers catapulted Howard Dean into the race to become the Democratic Nominee, but this time around it is online video sites that are the new kid on the media block . Youtube has become the largest online video player and outlet for presidential candidates and their supporters to shape the opinion of young voters online.

Senator Obama’s supporter’s made the first big splash when Phil de Vellis, aka ParkRidge47, created a mashup of Apple’s 1984 Super Bowl Ad that was directed by Ridley Scott. De Vellis pinned Hillary Clinton as the old political machine that no longer holds all the power.

Vote Different

Then Obama Girl came out and did her thing.

Obama Girl

In 2007, Youtube hosted debates for the Democratic candidates and the Republican candidates where YouTubers were given the opportunity to have their questions answered by the candidates.

Here is just a small sample of how the candidates and their supporters expressed their selves online via video.

• Barack Obama invested heavily on his website, and his Youtube channel that includes his speeches, supporters videos and endorsements from the Kennedy family
• Barack Obama’s supporters are probably the most creative in this race having created Youbama a Youtube clone where people express why they are voting for Obama.
• Hillary Clinton also has video on her website, and tonight she is broadcasting her town hall live on http://townhall.hillaryclinton.com/
• Mike Huckabee took a different by endorsing GodTube, an online video community for Christians with the tagline “Broadcast Him.” GodTube has a special section for the elections.
• Mitt Romney has Mitt TV which maybe canceled soon if he does not stop John McCain’s momentum.

There are many more viral videos that have played a large role in this election cycle, feel free to add them in the comments.