Liberal's Virtual War Room Warms up over the Summer Months: Pre-election Campaign already underway on the Internet

Pre-Election Campaigning on the Internet

Coverage of the Ontario Provincial Leaders on Youtube (summer 07: June 30 – August 17, 2007)

Dalton McGuinty

The most viewed video of the Premier (1919 views) came from the Ontario NDP – an official party ad. After this first video, the number of views drops dramatically. The second most viewed video (732 views) shows McGuinty opening a Hindu temple. While seemingly benign, the relatively large number of views may be related to a series of questions about the Liberals relationship to so-called “ethnic communities” in the province.

John Tory

The Liberal virtual war room, www.Torytube.ca, has been working overtime over the summer. The website and youtube account is being actively promoted by Liberal strategist Warren Kinsella and includes videos featuring former TV reporter, advisor to the premier, and current Liberal caucus staff member, Ben Chin. A number of bloggers have claimed that Torytube.ca is being run by Kinsella. Four of the top five most viewed videos are critical of John Tory. The PC leader also received considerably more views than either Hampton or McGuinty.

Howard Hampton

The NDP continue to upload official pre-campaign style TV ads onto Youtube. The top viewed video for example (1919 views) attacks the record of the provincial government. The second video, critical of Hampton’s policies in Northern Ontario, was uploaded by a suspected Torytube.ca insider known on youtube as “politicalguise”. The video, a smart and professional looking parody of VH1’s pop-up videos, critiques Hampton’s positions and statements are through pop-up windows.

John Tory

Dalton McGuinty

Howard Hampton