CNN’s DC Bureau Chief: Twitter, Facebook Will Be Key In Tonight’s GOP Debate

CNN Washington Bureau Chief Sam Feist says the 2012 presidential election is the first where “social media has come into its own,” with Twitter and Facebook having the power not just to collapse a politician’s career, but to accelerate a candidate’s appeal in key states. The first GOP debate, tonight in New Hampshire, and Feist says social media will be part of the event, with huge screens in the debate hall displaying viewer’s tweets and Facebook comments–from suggested questions to observations on who’s answering (and who’s not) the questions. Some of that viewer feedback will be sent to moderator John King for inclusion into the live debate.

“The key here,” Feist says, “is that social media is providing us a feedback loop and a constant source of commentary about the debate.” (The hashtag is #cnndebate)

Here’s Feist’s tour of the debate set and comments about social media, from CNN:

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