MySpace Initiatives Target Younger Voters

MySpace has launched several major initiatives this election season to get younger voters involved in the political process. It formed MyDebates.org in partnership with the Commission on Presidential Debates, conducted a poll with NBC News and the Wall Street Journal Online geared toward younger voters, and is working with major voter registration groups like Rock the Vote.

The MyDebates tools allow users to watch the entire debates or segments related to the issues that interest them. Tom Brokaw asked the candidates questions submitted on MyDebates.org in the second presidential debate, and 250,000 users visited the site during the final debate last Wednesday.

The poll MySpace helped conduct surveyed newly registered voters online as well as by phone, since younger voters don't always have a land line. The results indicated that younger voters favor Barack Obama and believe that the government, which they distrust, will be the solution to major problems, Brenner says.

Andy interviewed Brenner at the TimeWarner Politics 08 Summit in New York last week.

--Kelsey Blodget, Associate Producer