Politics in the Time of Twitter

“I’d just like to say that getting a response from @ScottBrownMA made my week so far! And writing a check to him....now.”
12:15 PM Apr 20th via web.

That was posted on the social media website, Twitter, by self-described “political junkie” Andrea Malewski. She had spotted Senator Scott Brown’s (R-MA) famous truck in Washington DC and posted a picture of it on her Twitter (anyone who paid attention to his campaign for the Senate office will remember the popular line, “I’m Scott Brown, and I drive a truck!). The Senator responded to her “Tweet” with the message-- “that’s the truck!”

Malewski, who works as Federal Relations Coordinator at a major business lobby in DC, is just one of many Americans who use Twitter to follow political happenings and, sometimes, hear back from their favorite politicians. Generally, Malewski said, politicians or their communications staffers will send a quick message to followers on Twitter, thanking them for their support.

“It’s a nice personal touch that helps make people feel like they have a relationship with a Member of Congress, “ said Malewski, 24.

Senator Brown is just one of the 52 U.S. Senators with Twitter accounts. While some limit their Tweets to article links, press release information, and policy updates, others use Twitter to connect with constituents on a more personal level (example: Sen. Claire McCaskill, R- MO, Tweeted on April 30th, “It’s our 8th anniversary, so I’m spending the next 48 hours being the best wife I can be to wonderful husband Joe.”)

Politicians who use Twitter like McCaskill and Brown are able to communicate more directly with the public by sidestepping television and newspaper. Other politicians, however, use their Twitter accounts as a way to promote themselves and, quite often, their campaigns.

“It’s a great way to get out there, to let constituents know about a rally that is going on or a press conference, events that could attract people,” said Jasmine Torres, who works as a Community Policy Aide for New York City Council Member Rosie Mendez. “It’s really about finding the most effective way to get the message out, using all avenues.”

Mendez used Twitter during her bid for re-election in 2009, mostly Tweeting about upcoming rallies, press conferences, and other events. The Council Member represents District 2 of Manhattan, which includes the Lower East Side, the East Village, and Alphabet City. The district, said Torres, is populated by a lot of activists who want to be involved. During the campaign, Twitter helped them know what was going on and where they could go to participate.

Websites like Twitter and Facebook can also be useful for politicians trying to appeal to younger voters. It’s no secret that, in recent years, the GOP has been trying to appeal to young Americans, who tend to be more liberal than conservative. Online social media is one way of building a more youthful image; a tell-tale sign of the Republican effort to do so is the fact that more Republican Senators have Twitter accounts than Democrats.

“Sites like Facebook and Twitter keep them from seeming like ‘old’ people,” said Malewski.

Most would also agree that new, technological methods of campaigning became popular as a result of President Obama’s 2008 campaign. His staff used sites like Twitter and Facebook, as well as text messages, blogs, and “apps” on iPhones and BlackBerrys, to communicate with young voters.

“The use of social media by the Obama campaign really changed the landscape,” said Malewski. “Now, everyone from those with presidential aspirations to someone running for dogcatcher create a Facebook and a Twitter account as part of their campaign.”

The impact that Twitter has had on politics, and political campaigning in particular, was especially made clear when Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco, announced his candidacy for the governor of California on Twitter in April 2009. This prompted many to question whether Twitter is replacing newspaper and television media as a major source of political information.

“Does that make you the new Larry King?” Maureen Dowd, columnist for the New York Times, asked the inventors of Twitter in regards to Newsom’s online announcement.


Online social media is also a big part of the campaign for Reshma Saujani, a 34 year-old Indian-American woman who is running against the incumbent Democrat to represent New York’s 14th District in the House. Her young staff members have been taking advantage of all forms of social media, especially Twitter and Facebook. They use Twitter to let the public know about rallies and other local events, gain support on different issues, and, in a more strategical manner, to “nudge” Saujani’s main opponent, Carolyn B. Maloney. (like Friday’s Tweet: “glad @carolynbmaloney is following my lead by introducing one provision (Startup Visa) of my immigration reform plan”). The same day, they created an event on Facebook to get signatures on a petition that calls for comprehensive immigration reform, one of the biggest issues that Saujani is focusing on for her campaign.

“It’s another way to get people to show up, to show that our supporters are really behind comprehensive immigration reform,” said Aaron Straus, 23, a Field Organizer on the campaign staff. “It’s a great way for us to gather support.”

Still, despite the growing importance of online social media in political campaigning, few would argue that it is the most important factor.

“Is it what’s going to get us over the line in September? Certainly not,” said Straus. “But it is one of the tools we use to get our message out. It’s not make or break. Twitter isn’t the end all be all.”

Straus said that, while useful, online social media needs to be complemented with traditional, grass roots efforts. Though the Saujani campaign has certainly taken advantage of websites like Twitter and Facebook, it has also stuck to phone calls, face-to-face interaction, and good old-fashioned snail mail. While Twitter may allow some followers to feel more connected with important politicians, it doesn’t seem to be replacing traditional campaigning methods.

“Face-to-face contact is a key principle of campaigns,” said Malewski. “There is a reason that shaking hands and kissing babies has been a part of politics since people still lived in caves. We need that individual contact, that real life presence to make a real connection with another individual.”