I found a really interesting article in NPR concerning the place of politics in what NPR writer Linton Weeks calls the "Social Media Age." He specifically points out twitter as a popular outlet politicians use to gain voters during their campaigns, as it specifically targets the younger voters. Weeks discusses specific instances where politicans have immaturely invaded sites like youtube, facebook and twitter only to bash their opponents.
While these sites can be easily manipulated, politicians have properly used it for campaining. Weeks notes that there seems to be a connection that people feel when politicians and celebrities connect with them via facebook, twitter, etc. Now if they connect to the public, they are seen as more "authentic" as weeks puts it, because they made an effort to reach everyone as possible. If politicians show familiarity with social networking it also gains the young voters because they are following the current 'trend.' But as Weeks discusses, this is more then just a trend; it's a whole new age.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130873983
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