But politics isn't only about voting; it's more deeply about organizing to get and keep power. And the evidence that social media is helping organized groups get more power--sometimes more than their raw numbers might get them at the ballot box--is staring us in the face. Exhibit A: the current Republican presidential primary.
Why isn't the primary over? Mitt Romney "won" Iowa and he definitely won New Hampshire, which in the past was enough to get party leaders and members to close ranks behind the frontrunner. Obviously he's a relatively weak candidate, but he's not that much weaker than Bob Dole, who in 1996 won Iowa, narrowly lost New Hampshire, briefly battled challenges from Patrick Buchanan and Steve Forbes, and then rapidly won almost every contest from late February forward.
How Social Media Is Keeping the GOP Primary Going
