Google Seizes the Day, Yet Again

Last night was a sad night indeed as sad as any night could be for a very sad night.  It turned out that months of hard labor proved to be ineffective against that which binds us all and holds us captive in mind - the media.  Communications control the 'hive mind' in the sense that popular media such as television and the Internet have an extremely powerful influence in our perception, and therefore thought.  Creigh Deeds won the 2009 Democratic Virginia Governors' Primary.
 
Nancy Scola writes a very interesting piece concerning the recent conclusion of this historic primary.  In initial polls, Creigh Deeds fared the worst among fellow contenders Terry McAuliffe and Brian Moran.  Both hailed from the Northern Virginia area, while Deeds himself represented Southwest Virginia, including Charlottesville, his headquarters.  However due to fundraising behemoth McAuliffe, Deeds was forced "to lay off field staffers at one point so he could afford to run television ads in the final two weeks of the campaign".
 
However it wasn't just the television and radio ads, Deeds bought Google ad buys specifically targeting Northern Virginia and Washington D.C.  Combined with his heavy endorsement from the Washington Post, Deeds surged in the polls.  Scola writes:
 
"As the campaign closed, Deeds was enjoying an spike of interest the other candidates could only drool over. Google's Insight for Search tool, for example, reveals that searches for Deeds' name originating from the Virginia on Monday were fully twice as numerous as those for Moran or McAuliffe's names."
 
 
I must admit that I worked as an intern for the Terry McAuliffe campaign for Governor.  Tuesday's loss was a huge disappointment, yet I remain optimistic for another job.  I almost hate to admit it, but I myself googled Deeds' name after seeing an on-line advertisement.  If I, a McAuliffe supporter did this, I can only imagine how this imprinted upon the undecided voter, which most were.  I'm simply amazed at how the Internet as become an intense advertising machine due to its growing outreach.  Taking political science classes here at UVA taught me an obvious, yet invaluable lesson about politics.  It's the air wars that dominate over the ground wars.  At the end of the day, the media have the greatest influence on our thoughts, opinions.  I do not find this morally offensive, but rather consider it testament to our communications prowess.
 
However please also allow me to say that we must be constantly vigilant in insuring a quality, level debate about this and other matters.  The Washington Post's May 22nd endorsement dynamically affected the election.  Deeds was sure to mention this fact in every advertisement produced thereafter and its impact was felt.  This is not to say that the Post's endorsement was somehow unwarranted, but that such power must be carefully wielded.
 

The Post did not single-handedly decide this election.  In the beginning, the campaigns vied for attention from blogs, just as it would any other medium.  Various labels, such as "carpetbagger" invariably did their damage as well.  I find it also important to note that McAuliffe's extensive field operation may have not won victory, but it did indeed still garner a share of the vote.  I am without a doubt certain that our efforts energized voters.
 

As a great man once said to a favorite superhero of mine, "with great power comes great responsibility".  The Post and other influential media organizations must be held to the lively debate that engages us all.  The only way to prevent monopolization of ideas is to create new ideas.  In this sense where is there is one large influence, there must be another.  Google proves to be such a candidate, yet the blogging community also has its due.  So too is YouTube such a force as it has consistently shown.  We must grow and thereby contribute to ourselves because good ideas are just as pervasive as bad ideas, fortunately.