UPDATE: I failed to mention that the event was co-sponsored by Waggener Edstrom Worldwide.

Yesterday morning here in DC several modern media communicators on the 2008 presidential campaigns got together to talk shop at event co-sponsored by the Politico. I couldn't make it, but I heard that it was a pretty good discussion.

Michelle Oddis over at Human Events was on hand to cover the action though.

“Just judging by the traffic numbers and every other metric online people are a lot more excited about the Democratic candidates online,” said moderator Ben Smith of the Politico.

Smith asked Mindy Finn, Director of e-Strategy for the Mitt Romney for President Campaign, if she thought Republicans could catch up:

“To say that we can’t catch up is sort of ignoring things that have happened before in history. There is a lot of time between now and November 2008…we are still in a primary process. The day that there is a nominee on both sides it becomes a completely different race,” said Finn.

Jim VandeHei (also from the Politico and a panel moderator) questioned Finn’s evaluation.

“You guys spend your life thinking about these issues… look a the advantage that the Republicans had because of talk radio and direct mail in the 80’s and 90’s -- and clearly the web seems like the new talk radio and direct mail -- how concerned are you when you look and see that the Democratic campaigns are adapting to this more quickly?” asked VandeHei.

The question of how badly the Dems are beating the GOP at online campaigning has been covered pretty frequently in this space. I think one of the most insightful analysis' of the debate was done by Jonah Goldberg a few months ago.

The gist of his point was that:

The energy is on liberalism's side -- and that translates into success in the digital world. Conservative media and FreeRepublic-style activists prospered in the Clinton 1990s because that's when they were on offense. And it's always more exciting -- and easier -- to be on offense. In the Bush years, it's the other way around.

The real question in my mind is not whether or not Republicans will catch-up, it's when. Will we be able to match the Democrats online efforts by November '08, or will it take a Hillary Clinton presidency for Republicans to embrace the modern world?

Let's hope the GOP sees the light sooner rather then later.