The Facebook Primary
Barack Obama is one popular dude. He's got tons of cash, swooning YouTube models, two-best selling books, and adoring kids.
No, not those kids; social networking kids. As covered by nearly every major media outlet, Barack has quickly become the candidate of youth-oriented social networking sites (an "Internet phenomenon," one newspaper called it).
On MySpace.com, Obama has 130,000 friends, mostly clothed. On Facebook.com, one group, "One Million Strong for Barack," has over 310,000 members. Another group, "Students for Barack Obama," boasts a combined membership of over 60,000, with hundreds of campus chapters.
Obama is even eliciting risque groups. The group "Barack Obama for President (or father of my baby, preferably both)" has a membership of nearly 300, while 130 Facebookers are saying, "Barack Obama for President? Barack Obama for IN MY PANTS!"
Yet don't let all this flattery fool you. Barack Obama is not the only presidential candidate on the receiving end of young, unadulterated Facebookery.
Here's a quick run-down (links, found in the asterisks, require Facebook login):
Hillary Clinton
* If Hillary Clinton was president, she would be Babe-raham Lincoln! 32 members.
* DUDES WHO DO NOTHING BUT FURIOUSLY MASTURBATE TO HILLARY CLINTON. 97 members.
John McCain
* I offer up my virginity to John McCain. 14 members.
* John McCain — Presidential Candidate, all around badass. 11 members.
Mitt Romney
* mitt romney is super cute. 7 members.
* Jews for Mitt Romney. 2 members.
* I Will Vote for Mitt Romney in 2008 if he Campaigns in a Dress and Heels. 17 members.
Sam Brownback
* 1,000,000 STRONG for SEN. SAM BROWNBACK. 4 members.
* I'm Bringing Sam Brownback... 81 members.
Dennis Kucinich
* Dennis Kucinich Snuggle Party. 10 members.
* Vote for Kucinich — his wife is hot! 34 members.
John Edwards
* John Edwards touched me and I almost passed out. 74 members.
* John Edwards is Smokin' Hot! 39 members.
Rudy Giuliani
* Rudy Giuliani Ex-Wives Club. 6 members.
* Rudy Giuliani 2008 (One million members). 28 members.
Fred Thompson
* Fred Thompson Eats Nails for Lunch and Washes Them Down With Batterie Acid! 67 members.
* People who understand Fred Thompson really is as cool as his TV character. 5 members.
Bill Richardson
* Bill Richardson is Batman. 78 members.
Joe Biden
* Clean, Articulate, Nice-Looking Americans for Biden. 127 members.
* Joe Biden is a PIMP! 20 members.
Ron Paul
* Pirates for Ron Paul. 59 members.
* I wish Ron Paul was my grandpa! 14 members.
* Ron Paul is secretly Magneto. 10 members.
— Eric Hananoki (halona at gmail dot com)
