The Lifespan and Future of United States Presidential Campaigns and the Internet

• In Event: Spotlight on Innovative Scholarship: Communication and Technology Across the Lifespan

Abstract

In two decades, the Internet went from being perceived as a meaningless political campaign novelty to being hailed as a necessary tool to win elections. This paper will examine the lifespan of the Internet’s use in United States presidential campaigns, from its initial use in 1992 to its use in the campaigns for 2012. Doing so will enable the examination of the five primary functions of the Internet in political campaigns. It will also enable the examination of the present and future use of the Internet in political campaigns.

Author

• David McMahan, Central States Communication Association