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Analysis: Bigger Twitter, Facebook Flock Boosts Election Odds

Tuesday's elections showed just how much influence Twitter and Facebook have.The candidates with the most Twitter followers won, in 22 of the 34 races across the country. Breaking this number down, 65% of the candidates with a large Twitter following won chief executive positions in their states. 

Jerry Brown, with more than 1.1 million Twitter followers, 

exults after winning California's governorship.

When it comes to Facebook, 59% of the candidates (20 out of 34) with the most "likes", formally known as "fans", won chief executive positions. 

One cannot forget the many other factors that determine election results, however Twitter and Facebook, and the Internet in general, can be used as important marketing techniques. 

President Obama used the internet as a key in his victory two years ago. 

However, Tuesday's elections also proved that Twitter and Facebook are not necessary for candidates to come out on top. For example, Arkansas incumbent, Mark Beebe, had over 100 less Twitter followers and over 1,000 less Facebook fans than his competing candidate, yet still managed to be re-elected. Similar results where the Twitter and Facebook "underdog" won elections were also found in California, Florida, and Alaska. 

I feel that as time passes, the internet will become an even bigger part in advertising for potential candidates. However, one must keep in mind that there is still a large portion of the population, like my grandparents and their friends, who do not use social networking sites. Candidates need to remember that anything can happen and that nothing is guaranteed simply because it is "Facebook official".