This ain't your momma's gubernatorial campaign.
Seizing on ever-changing technology, South Carolina's gubernatorial campaigns are unleashing a cloud of new interactive approaches to make you feel connected to their candidates and gain your vote.
Last week, state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, a Camden Democrat running for governor, unveiled the Sheheen Action Network, an interactive social component to his Web site.
Based on technology used by President Barack Obama's campaign, the network lets Sheheen supporters join or start their own groups, like Teachers for Sheheen and University of South Carolina Students for Sheheen, organize their own campaign events, write blog posts, and upload photos and videos from campaign events.
"No campaign that I'm aware of in South Carolina has done anything like this that's so interactive," said Laurin Manning, Sheheen's new media director who did similar work for Obama's presidential campaign.
"You may have a person who lives four doors down from you and you don't know they're also a (Sheheen) supporter. This is a way to connect."
U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, the Westminster Republican running for governor, is taking a more visual approach.
Anyone can ask Barrett a question by posting a short video or sending an e-mail to the "Ask Gresham" section of his Web site.
Each week, Barrett answers about three questions in his own short video posts.
"He's very personable," said Wes Donehue, who oversees Barrett's new media. "He's a very likable guy, and that comes across in the videos. Video works for him."
Read more at TheState.com