MySpace, MTV partner to hold Candidate-Voter Interactions

MySpace.com partnered with MTV to present an interactive and real-time “presidential dialogue series” that will allow users to question presidential candidates in real time during Web and television broadcasts.

The series will be launched Sept. 27 with former senator and presidential hopeful John Edwards holding the first dialogue in New Hampshire.

2008 hopefuls from both parties will participate, each holding individual dialogues with young voters. The dialogues are intended to be ‘unfiltered discussions’ between voters and the major candidates.

Users can instant-message, e-mail or text their questions in real-time during the events. The events will be held on college campuses nationwide and will be aired on the MTV and mtvU cable stations, and will be webcast live on MTV.com and MySpaceTV.

Starting September, 11 dialogues will be held through December, each lasting about one hour. They will help rate the online audience's response to the candidates' answers through live polling on MTV.com and MySpace.com.

Normally, the candidates will be present on college campuses during their chats.

"This is not a debate," said MTV spokesman Ian Rowe adding that these dialogues will provide an opportunity to the young “to have a one-on-one, direct conversation with each candidate.”

"These presidential dialogues will bring individual candidates directly to voters -- one at a time," said Chris DeWolfe, co-founder and CEO of MySpace, in a statement. "We are lowering the barriers to entry, setting a high-water mark for direct engagement between presidential candidates and average Americans."

Participating Democrats include: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Barack Obama, and Gov. Bill Richardson.

Republicans involved are: Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Rep. Ron Paul, Rep. Duncan Hunter, Sen. John McCain, Sen. Sam Brownback, and former Gov. Mitt Romney.

This is not the first time such events are being conducted. Earlier this year YouTube and CNN struck a partnership to hold a Democratic debate where people could contribute their questions by uploading a video from anywhere. A similar Republican debate is scheduled for November 28.