I certainly agree that Obama used interactive technologies to engage people in ways that were never before possible. This definitely played a role in mobilising youth - even those not old enough to vote, like my friend's 8-year-old son whose teacher used new technologies as well as "old school" classroom activities, to organise mock elections, etc. (See also the article "Kids Speak out on Election in iReport Videos" - http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/16/kids.election.irpt/index.html?ere...). However, I was certainly impacted by the volunteer who knocked on my porch door, the phone call asking if Obama could count on my vote, and the college students holding Obama signs and waving at the only stoplight in town as cars honked and waved. My mom, who (like McCain) is not a computer user, was just as adamant Obama supporter as I. So I do think that - while the international community may draw on some rich lessons from this campaign - the picture is quite complex, which only gives hope to those trying to reach people in places where new technologies do not yet have a stronghold.