The Internet and Campaign 2004

The Pew Internet & American Life Project is out with a report on Internet usage in the 2004 campaign. They call last year a “breakout year for the role of the Internet in politics,” and claim that 37% of the adult population and 61% of online Americans used the Internet to get political news and political information, or to discuss candidates and debate issues via email, or to directly in the political process by volunteering or giving contributions to candidates. That’s 75 million people.

The online political news consumer population nearly doubled from 2000 to 2004, and there was an increase of 50% in the number of registered voters who cited the Internet as one of their primary sources of news about the presidential campaign. Kerry supporters were more active online than Bush supporters, and claim they got more out of the experience. Onward to 2008.