Here is a fun way to compare candidates – a YouTube head to head contest.

On the GOP Side – Pat Toomey vs. Peg Luksik

Peg Luksik

Channel Views: 425
Age: 49
Joined: March 20, 2009
Last Sign In: 3 months ago
Subscribers: 21
Videos: 1
Top Viewed Video: 1,259

Keystone Grade: F-
Analysis: The Luksik campaign is basically using YouTube as a place to
host a video. No utilization of any of the social aspects of YouTube
and with 21 subscribers you really should. There are 3 more videos on
the account of Steve Clark advertising but again it’s being used as a video host and nothing more.

Pat Toomey

Channel Views: 4,678
Age: 48
Joined: April 11, 2009
Last Sign In: 1 day ago
Subscribers: 114
Website: http://www.toomeyforsenate.com
About Me: Former Congressman Pat Toomey is running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania.

Videos: 62
Top Viewed Video: 18,255

Keystone Grade: B+
Analysis: Solid use of YouTube, they have campaign updates, favorites,
videos of opponents, speeches, radio spots, casual videos, fancy
videos. The only thing that is missing are videos of Toomey supporters.
Successful YouTube campaigns turn the camera around and point it at
regular people.
It’s interesting to note that Toomey’s least viewed videos are about
Joe Sestak while the most view videos are about Arlen Specter.

On the Dem side – Arlen Specter vs Joe Sestak

Joe Sestak

Channel Views:3,284
Running for: Senate
Joined: July 15, 2009
Last Sign In: 52 minutes ago

Videos: 206
Top Viewed Video: 4,390

Keystone Grade: C
Analysis: Good use of YouTube, good use of design elements for the
channel. However all the videos are about Sestak. None of his
opponents, supporters or anyone else for that matter. He has the most
videos but they don’t get much traffic at all. Quantity without quality
doesn’t cut it.

Arlen Specter

Channel Views: 1,670
Joined: March 12, 2009
Last Sign In: 2 days ago
Subscribers: 23
Website: http://www.specter2010.com/
About Me: Spreading the word about Pennsylvania’s 2010 Senate election.

Videos: 23
Top Viewed Video: 5,815

Keystone Grade: D-
Analysis: Yup Specter has a YouTube channel, he’s probably never even
seen it himself and it’s the job of some lonely staffer to manage it.
There are a few videos, hardly any traffic, most of the videos have
less than 400 views.

And the winner IS… Joe Sestak

Toomey Vs. Sestak

It’s actually a little bit of a contest but Toomey still wins by a
landslide. More views, better use, more subscribers, more engagement.

note: Sestak and Toomey are both taking YouTube seriously while Specter and Luksik are treating it as an afterthought.

Crossposted at Keystone Conservative

In 2008 "A record-breaking 46% of Americans have used the internet, email or cell phone text messaging to get news about the campaign," this according to Pew Research study. With so many Citizens using the internet to talk to each other and get news, shouldn't our elected officials be communicating with us using email?
I made the rounds of my elected official's websites to see how well they were communicating with "we the people"

Federal

President George Bush (R)

Pros: Confirmation page and confirmation email. (only site to have double opt in).

Cons: No front page opt in so hard to find out where to subscribe, double opt in message flagged as spam.

President-elect Barack Obama (D)

Pros: Opt in box on the front page, only requires my email and zip code, confirmation page (with ability to invite friends) and confirmation email.

Cons: None

Senator Arlen Specter (R)

Pros: The opt in box is on the front page and he has a list of past newsletters.

Cons: Requires both first and last name, no confirmation email

Senator Bob Casey (D)

Pros: Opt in box on front page, also has an action center with a petition where you can submit your email address.

Cons: Unfortunately the system was down and I got an error when I hit submit (otherwise he would have ranked on top of the list. Requires first and last names.

Congressman Joe Pitts (R) 16th district

Pros: Opt in box on home page

Cons: Triple opt in, once you hit submit an email is generated which you have to reply to with a command, after following the instructions I got a reply email saying my command wasn't valid. Generated emails do not say who they are from.

State

Governor Ed Rendell (D)

Pros: Has opt in box on home page, only requires an email address.

Cons: No confirmation page or email confirmation that your submission has been processed. i.e. I don't know if I'm signed up yet.

Senator Mike Brubaker (R) 36th district

Pros: Link from home page and sends a confirmation email.

Cons: No opt in on the front page, only a link. Requires first and last names, confirmation email flagged as spam by google mail.

Rep Scott Boyd (R) 43rd district

Pros: Link from home page (quick to respond to suggestion of having a monthly newsletter)

Cons: No opt in box on the front page. Required fields are: First name, last name, address, home phone, work phone, email, zip code, county, government priorities.
Visit your elected officials and see how good a job they do communicating wit you. Post results in the comments.

Cross-posted at KeystoneConservative.com