The recently launched television ad by the Democratic National Committee, which uses the “straight talking maverick’s” own words regarding a 100 year commitment of American troops in Iraq against him brings to light McCain’s vulnerability in this new citizen journalism era of politics. The comment by McCain was not asked by a professional journalist, but rather a concerned voter. The moment was not caught on tape by a network news camera, but rather an amateur photographer. And the public did not first learn about this moment on the nightly news, but rather the video sharing site YouTube.

The DNC ad promises to be the first of many instances that may prove that the 71 year-old McCain may not be equipped for the ruthless environment of Presidential politics in the YouTube era. The YouTube era; where every public moment (and sometimes relatively private moments) is recorded by the seemingly ever present electric eye. No longer do campaign staffs have to agonize over which sound bite to use for the next television ad, because the cutting room floor can simply be swept up and released into the public domain for free via YouTube and various other websites. It is once on the internet that clips have the ability to take on a life of their own in the mainstream news cycle.

This video sharing technology can work positively for a candidate, such as the wide reach given to Obama’s soaring rhetoric earlier in the Democratic primary, or by giving birth to a grassroots phenomenon by portraying the underdog speaking truth to power, as happened in the case of Ron Paul.

However, this new era can also create new problems for the candidates. It can force into the limelight moments along the campaign trail that the candidate would rather forget, and in the past the corporate media might have overlooked.

Down the stretch leading up to the November election I predict that we will see feature length documentaries released by amateur documentary film makers, anything from exposes candidates to in-depth looks at a particular issue relevant to the campaign. These documentaries, which can be produced for next to nothing, have the potential to have a very real impact on the outcome of the general election.

Presidential candidates have always been under the microscope but in the past the networks and cable news stations set the agenda, and they still ultimately do, but they are increasingly taking their cues from the online community. They have no choice.

Perhaps it is no surprise then, given this political landscape, that a spring chicken like Obama (only four years removed from the Illinois state senate) who always seems come across as cool, collected and eloquent has become the darling of this new medium. Speech after speech by Obama reach YouTube’s most viewed list, exposing him to more voters everyday.

McCain, however, while an adequate speaker is known to speak his mind, contradict previous statements and fumble over terms relating to the economy and foreign policy.

As for Hillary Clinton she has said herself, “I have a lot of baggage and everybody has rummaged through it.” My feeling is that she is so deeply ingrained into the American political landscape that it is difficult for her to sustain significant damage via the YouTube medium. While it has been important for her to maintain a presence on the internet, I don’t believe it has particularly benefited her in a drastic way either.

The bottom line is that when the Democrats finally get around to lining up McCain in the gotcha politics cross-hairs, it is guaranteed to produce an abundance of ammunition to attack an embarrassingly under funded McCain candidacy who may simply not have the funds or political tools to retaliate.

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