The YouTube Election

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Last night, the presidential debate took a high-tech turn as YouTube videos of fiery citizens were put right in the face of candidates. Lots of talk-back from average Joes and Jills to the likes of Barack, Hillary and John.

All of it was against the backdrop of a campaign that has become very plugged in. Candidates are mobbing the Web. It's not just fundraising now; it's branding and networking and mobilizing. Old creaky wooden campaign platforms are giving way to cyber platforms.

This hour On Point: The role of technology and the Web in the 2008 YouTube election.

Guests:

Julie Barko Germany, deputy director, Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet at George Washington University

Steve Grove, head of news and politics for YouTube

Leah Kaufman, singer and songwriter for the "Obama Girl" Web video

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst and senior editor at The Atlantic Monthly.