“And now, entering the political ring at 6″7 and 350 lbs., and weighing in at approximately $15 billion…FACEBOOK!” While the above is clearly my personal dramatization, it’s nevertheless true: Facebook is a co-sponsor of the U.S. presidential debate in New Hampshire.

Though it won’t be the first tech-company to get in on the 2008 election action—Google was co-sponsor of two YouTube presidential debates in July 2007 (Democrats) and November 2007 (Republicans)—its involvement in the upcoming debate is not without controversy.

As reported by Declan McCullagh on a CNET.com news blog, while the YouTube/CNN debates were relatively inclusive, Saturday’s Facebook/WMUR/ABC debates will likely be fairly exclusive. The debate is receiving criticism because in spite of the inevitable shortening of the candidate list (indeed, iconic fan favourite Stephen Colbert is one of several who have already dropped out voluntarily), a number of candidates likely will be barred from participating even before the New Hampshire primary takes place on January 8.

The only thing that can be said with any certainty at this point is that while the YouTube/Facebook debates represent a new trend in a decades-long tradition of media organizations sponsoring such debates, it is still too early to gauge whether or not the benefits of such involvements will outweigh their costs.






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