The latest tactical move by left wing bloggers in the US election campaign is called ‘Google Bombing'.
The campaign, outlined by Chris Bowers of MyDD last week, aims to utilize ‘Google Adwords and simultaneous, widespread embedded hyperlinks in order to drive as many voters as possible toward the most damning, non-partisan article written on the Republican candidate in seventy key US Senate and House races.
As a study by Pew Internet and American Life Project demonstrates, the number one way voters use the Internet for political action is to search for candidate information. Bowers anticipates that if a negative article about a candidate appears both high on all Google searches and as an advertisement whenever anyone search for the candidate, this will increase the likelihood that the article will be seen and trusted by those searching for the information.
According to an article by Heather Greenfield, in MSNBC.com, the campaign has been picked up by right wing bloggers who urge their ilk to use a ‘fight fire with fire’ strategy. However, there are concerns among the right wing bloggers that the Google Bombing-campaign might only work for Democrats writes Greenfield.
The form of campaigning has met mixed critiques according to MSNBC.com. It is seen as both a clever and cost-effective way to campaign. However, online strategists such as Mike Connell of Connell Donatelli Inc., said to MSNBC.com that the Google Bombing-campaign might have been sparked too late to work in time for the election.
Google is definitely not thrilled by the idea.
This is a very interesting way of running a campaign and we will hopefully hear more about its effect after the November election.
The history of 'Political Google Bombing'
The Bivings Report on Political Google Bombs
A New Campaign Tactic: Manipulating Google Data - The New York Times
Other campaigns in the US Election: Use it or lose it
Update:
Follow the developments in the Google Bombing Campaign at MyDD