Earlier this year, I blogged quite a bit about Second Life because I think that the notion of a 3D Internet has promise. However, I've struggled to pay much attention to it because Second Life remains stuck in its infancy with way too many flaws to be relevant in the 2008 political cycle. In short, I recognize the potential, it's just not where it needs to make the jump to the mainstream.

There's a story in today's Politico which takes quite a few shots at those politicians willing to even try the new technology. The only nugget which I actually found interesting was this:

[Newt] Gingrich, who is considered a leader in the Second Life political movement, said he has publicly urged Republicans to join up, but the party has been slow to respond, while Democrats have charged forward. “I think Republicans are now playing catch-up,” he said.

Newt explained how he views Second Life--or more importantly, the promise of a 3D Internet--earlier this year in a speech on the West Front of the Capitol Lawn (in Second Life). Here's a report from a Second Lifer worth watching:

I agree with Newt today as I did back in January in a blog post I wrote on how Republicans could engage the space:

A few folks in the tech + politics business who matter, including RNC eCampaign Director Patrick Ruffini and Personal Democracy Forum’s Micah Sifry, are extremely skeptical about politicians jumping in to their Second Life.

I’m in a different category. I don’t think Republicans can afford to cede any ground to Democrats, especially in modern, exponentially growing communities like Second Life and whatever else tomorrow will bring. At the very least, we need to keep a close eye on successes and failures in Second Life and learn from Second Lifers — like Nancy Scola — about what is on the horizon.

After all, we don’t live in a brave new world folks. We live in a modern world populated by you, me, and millions of our closest friends. We shouldn’t be afraid to reach out and touch someone.

However, until the technology catches up with "brave" souls like Newt Gingrich, I doubt we'll expect to see much traction worth noting. This egg isn't ready to hatch.