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Gartner Says Political Fundraising Thrives on the Internet But Traditional Campaign Spending Is More Effective
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Gartner Says All 50 States Will Have Some Online Voting in 2004 Election
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STAMFORD, Conn., November 6, 2000 — Political strategists are finding that influencing swing votes is best accomplished in person and via traditional media, according to analysts at Gartner Group, Inc. (NYSE: IT and ITB). While campaign funds are more wisely spent offline, political candidates tell Gartner that online fundraising has been highly effective. The demographics of Internet users in the United States tend to be citizens with above average income and education.
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As U.S. politics move online, Gartner says all 50 states will have some online voting in the 2004 election.
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Gartner research indicates that the average Internet user in the United States is 41 years old, is married, has an average of 2.81 children, is employed, and has an average annual income of $65,000. The gender of the average Internet user is evenly split between men and women. Some 70 percent of all Internet users started using the Internet in 1998 or earlier.
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"After a televised debate, candidates running for offices at the state and national levels are driving viewers to the Web to financially support their campaigns," said Christopher Baum, Gartner Vice President, Electronic Government. "Politically savvy citizens on the Web are highly participatory and highly informed. That’s a good target for political fundraising."
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Both presidential candidates have been plugging their Web sites to offer up their platforms on campaign issues.
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"This is basically preaching to the choir in most cases because Internet users are generally already settled into their particular political camps," continued Baum. "The swing votes will be best persuaded in person or via traditional media."
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