Mobile | RSS

Political Notebook - The blog

  • Parties’ reaction to running mates stark
    Now that the dust has settled over the running-mate choices on the Republican and Democratic sides in the race for governor, the differing responses given to each announcement by the parties should be noted.Sunday
  • Positive opposition
    City Councilman Mitch Harper, R-4th, on Wednesday tweeted a local news story quoting him regarding a new $6.9 million volleyball complex being built near Lima Road and Fernhill Avenue.Wednesday
  • Protecting his neighbors
    No member of the public spoke during the Fort Wayne City Council’s public hearing on redistricting this week, but at least one council member thinks a change to the proposal is needed.Wednesday
Advertisement
Last updated: February 20, 2012 2:57 p.m.

Lugar among top tweeters

Brian Francisco | Washington editor

His foes and primary-election challenger have been charging that Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., after 35 years in Washington, D.C., is out of touch with Hoosiers.

But according to the website OhMyGov, Lugar was among the top five users of social media in the Senate for the week ending Feb. 14.

Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont topped the Senate list, while Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who seeks the Republican nomination for president, was first among social-media users in the House.

Rep. Mike Pence, R-6th, who seeks the GOP nomination for governor, ranked 32nd in the House.

Federal lawmakers were scored by increases among their Facebook and Twitter followers, the number of retweets their followers shared and the number of Twitter mentions by followers.

OhMyGov found Lugar had more than 47,800 social-media fans as of Feb. 13 – a far cry from the nearly 1.2 million for Paul.

Just what is Lugar tweeting about? Here are samples:

  • On President Obama's proposed budget: "This spending is unsustainable & unacceptable. This lack of fiscal leadership must end."
  • On Obama's mandate that contraceptives be provided by employers or their health insurers: "The govt should NOT require employers to provide coverage for contraception & sterilization services contrary to religious beliefs/morals."
  • On what would have been President Reagan's 101st birthday: "Remembering my dear friend Pres Ronald Reagan 2day. Honoring his legacy for conservatism, the Republican Party & our country."

© Copyright 2012 The Journal Gazette. All rights reserved. Neither this material nor its presentation may be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. © Copyright 2012 The Journal Gazette. All rights reserved. Neither this material nor its presentation may be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Share