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Parties, Candidates and Citizens On-Line - Åbo Akademi

Parties, Candidates and Citizens On-Line - Åbo Akademi

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than their rivals (Margolis et al. 2003: 58; Margolis & Resnick 2000: 16), which seemingly<br />

has resulted in a higher campaign web presence <strong>and</strong> more advanced websites by major<br />

party c<strong>and</strong>idates. The study has also helped to deepen <strong>and</strong> bring more nuances to the<br />

general knowledge concerning on-line electoral competition. The recurring significant<br />

effects for the intra-party factors, i.e. incumbency <strong>and</strong> competitiveness, merit attention.<br />

Electoral competition between c<strong>and</strong>idates on the internet does not necessarily exist only<br />

between c<strong>and</strong>idates of different parties, but can also appear within the boundaries of one<br />

party. Tentatively, it appears as if both the party <strong>and</strong> the c<strong>and</strong>idates find it pointless to<br />

invest extensive time, effort, <strong>and</strong> money into on-line campaigns for c<strong>and</strong>idates without<br />

any chance of election. This should only serve to further strengthen the status quo<br />

concerning electoral competition on the c<strong>and</strong>idate level, both on- <strong>and</strong> off-line. All things<br />

considered, then, on-line campaigning is still not a ‘chance for the outsiders’, on the<br />

contrary, it is still mostly a question of ‘politics as usual’.<br />

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