If 2004 was the year politicians realized they could rack in funds from the Internet, 2008 will be the year that campaigns recognized the power of online video, saith Richard Koman at ZD Net.

Mitt Romney's campaign was the first to recognize the threat of online video back in early January 2007. A quick mashup of Romney's 1994 debate with Senator Kennedy showed Mitt voicing support for abortion rights and gay rights, positions he had later renounced. Romney's crew filmed a rebuttal in less than eight hours and shipped it around to his supporters and Republican bloggers.

John Edwards and Hilary Clinton get props for leveraging YouTube and interactive webcasting, with local townhall speeches getting a global reach and the ability to be repackaged in different ways. National viewers got snapshots of local campaign spinning and local attack ads can quickly appear on YouTube to get a national audience.

And Richard didn't even mention Obama Girl and her sequels.

For more:
- ZDNet's Campaign 08: Internet video is at the center [1]

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