John Edwards' Campaign Enters Second Life

politics 2.0 writes "It may not be an official effort — yet — but thanks to a grass-roots effort, John Edwards has become the first presidential candidate to set-up-shop in Second Life. Jerimee Richir, whose avatar is called Jose Rote, paid-for and developed Edwards' virtual headquarters, and, on a voluntary basis, is managing the in-world campaign. Considering that Second Life's user numbers are much smaller than other social networks, such as MySpace and Facebook — aside from generating press coverage — will campaigning in Second Life actually win many votes? Rote says yes, and that 'Second Life users are a unique audience, in that, they are first adopters. It is a smaller community, but I would argue it is a more influential community.'"

Comments

*rolls eyes*

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

Rote says yes, and that 'Second Life users are a unique audience, in that, they are first adopters. It is a smaller community, but I would argue it is a more influential community.'

Yeeesh! Smug SL user & lame* presidential candidate stories rolled into one! Thanks slashdot :-)

Second life is great to show your "internet savvy", coz the mainstream press (newsites, tv, legacy print, etc) can report on your 'internet presence' with impressive pics of a 3d world.

Second life is not great for the direct influence it has on the American public.

*the story, not the candidate, dunno about him.

PS. A comment on the linked article said Obama also had a SL presence. But with no backing evidence. Anyone on SL want to confirm/deny this for us?

PPS. Did anyone else think the photo of the author of the linked article looked 'shopped?

Right...

[Erwos]

Second Life campaign team says Second Life is important to campaign. Who could have predicted such an outcome?

This sounds remarkably like a Second Lifer who's gotten an inflated idea of how important their alternate reality is, asked the campaign team for permission, and then made something. The fact that the campaign itself doesn't seem to be investing money in this is telling as to how much _they_ think this is going to help. That's not to say an Internet presence isn't important, of course - but this is just a little too niche to matter.

Re:The Next VRML

[LinuxGeek]

Mr. Edwards gained quite a reputation both in NC and nation wide as an extremely aggressive attorney. Living in NC for most of my life, I got to see many effects of his record setting medical settlements and jury awards on both the patients and doctors. If he can do the same things for Second Life, then it probably won't last much longer... :~}