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* MEDIA WATCH ALERT
* An E-mail Service of The
* and the Online NewsHour
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AUGUST 5, 2003
*INTERNET POWER SURGE
Former Vermont governor Howard Dean calls his presidential bid
the "people-powered campaign." While that may sound like old-
fashioned populism, the contemporary element fueling Dean's
unexpectedly successful outreach effort is the Internet.
Through the Web site "Meetup.com," Dean's campaign organizes monthly
meetings to help attract potential voters for the upcoming
Democratic primary. These "Smart Mobs," as they are called, gather
at designated places where organizers rally grassroots support for
Dean.
By virtue of his online organizing and fundraising, Dean has gained
national attention -- much to the surprise of many political
pundits. Yet, as Dean raised more money than any other Democratic
candidate in the second quarter, Internet primary campaigns appear
to pay off financially.
Tonight, NewsHour Media Correspondent Terence Smith examines Dean's
success at building grassroots support in cyberspace, and how other
presidential candidates are using the Internet to their advantage.
Visit
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/media after 9 pm Eastern time for
more information on this segment.