The new election standard.

Fresh of America’s historic choice in the presidential election, media, political pundits and observers are already dissecting the impact of technology upon the 2008 presidential campaign.

The New York Times published a story Monday (Nov. 3) in which it proclaimed this:

It has rewritten the rules on how to reach voters, raise money, organize supporters, manage the news media, track and mold public opinion, and wage — and withstand — political attacks, including many carried by blogs that did not exist four years ago. It has challenged the consensus view of the American electoral battleground, suggesting that Democrats can at a minimum be competitive in states and regions that had long been Republican strongholds.

— “The ‘08  Campaign: Sea Change for Politics as We Know It,” Adam Nagourney, The New York Times

Like others, such as Mojo Dojo, the author goes on to credit Obama’s comprehensive online and multimedia campaign, which tapped directly into younger, mobile voters with cells, but no land lines. The campaign also made use of the popular iPhone by creating a free application that among other things allowed users instant access to local campaign events, gave text and Twitter updates, audio and video of Obama speeches and rallies, plus push-button campaign donations.

Regardless of whether the Obama-Biden campaign or the McCain-Palin ticket wins the White House, multimedia wunderkinds are smiling at the prospects of what will be legions of “multimedia campaign coordinator” positions popping up in subsequent elections. From the inclusion of Facebook, YouTube and MySpace in presidential debates to grass-roots usage of Twitter and text messaging, statewide and national campaigns will never be the same. Candidates will now realize an online campaign using online media is becoming the best way to get out an unflitered message AND refute rival attacks and rumor-mongering.