Ted Cruz Leads Presidential Pack in Use of Social Media To Announce Candidacy
By social media editor Melony Roy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- US senator Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) was the first to formally announce his presidential run. And instead of a ballroom and podium, he opted for another platform: Twitter.
His simple tweet read, "I'm running for President and I hope to earn your support!" It was accompanied by a campaign video.
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Valerie Caras, digital strategy manager for Ceisler Media, based in Philadelphia, thinks the social media stratagem makes sense.
"I think it shows that they are not only getting their message out there, but they are really looking for a way to engage with folks and sway opinions in that way," she tells KYW Newsradio.
She notes that Cruz can now have his digital team monitoring the conversation in real time for both positive and negative feedback.
"They'll be able to capture, in real time, supporter sentiment, what issues they think he might have, his biggest strengths," Caras says. "They'll be able to capitalize on them to further engage those folks to volunteer or donate."
Following the announcement, Sen. Cruz was trending locally and nationally on Twitter.
