From Sarah Palin to SNL: NCA tackles the digital presidency

I sit in a crowd full of people energized and ready to talk about the race Barack Obama just won. The NCA roundtable election discussion made up of scholars and commentators quickly became a playground for discussion. The sharing of different ideas and opinions during the session led to timely jokes and serious points. Bringing up Tina Fey and the web-based campaign, participants were able to delve into issues while having a few laughs along the way.

Discussion began with the subject of our new leader, Barack Obama. How did he win? How will he do? What does the future hold? As I try to take in the commentary without interjecting my own opinions, I find myself fascinated with the strategy behind his victory. From Sarah Palin and Saturday Night Live performances to the outreach on the web and the youth vote, communication scholars have analyzed it all.

I now realize that we put ourselves in the hands of  Obama and McCain's top advisers and strategists as they molded the electorate into what it was on November 4^th.  Their power was daunting as the world waited for an outcome. The strategies will only continue as Barack Obama begins what scholars are already calling "the digital presidency." I guess I better log onto youtube and watch as the next four years unfold.

Abbey