By Russ Campbell of Russ Campbell’s Blog
We are hours from closing the polls and days from knowing who will lead our party in the Legislature and into the 2011 election. As I see it, the stakes could not be higher for the PC Party of Ontario.
I am encouraged by the quality of the four leadership candidates and by the high level of interest and enthusiasm they generated throughout the race. Their campaigns were short but intense; their debate thought-provoking.
Shrewd and creative use of “new media” have been hallmarks of this campaign. Twitter and Facebook as well as more traditional Web pages were utilized extensively. No longer did party members have to depend on the mainstream media to provide knowledge about the candidates. Access to the candidates was open to all with an e-mail account or a web browser. Internet-savvy members could converse directly with fellow supporters and debate the issues with adversaries.
This bodes well for when next we take on Mr. McGuinty. Here’s to victory in 2011!
I agree with you Russ – we had four amazing candidates and I’m encouraged that we were able to grow our membership base. For obvious reasons, I agree that social media will play an important role in helping us win the next election.
It’s amazing how much things have changed. I was very involved in the 1995 election and the Harris first majority government. And, subsequently, was an EA and Communications Advisor for a PC MPP.
Yet, I distinctly remember having to convince my Member to put up a website. He said, “Let’s wait a year” and see where the Internet is going. Well, we were one of the first of the PC caucus to put up a website in 1997.
Thinking back, it was sure crude. But, it was a start. As was the internal e-mail system a year later.
Now twelve years later, look where we are — the blogosphere and social media can spread a message in seconds.
Just imagine then, where we’ll be in the summer and early fall of 2011.
Can hardly wait!