Social media isn't just for you and your friends anymore.
Some of Calgary's mayoral candidates have taken it a step further.
A group of political bloggers hosted the city's first ever mayoral debate on Twitter Tuesday night – the microblogging service that allows users to send messages to each other, with a 140 character limit.
The idea was a brainwave of Kirk Schmidt with CalgaryPolitics.com.
"One day I was reading Twitter. We were talking about the Calgary election and somebody was talking about debates and that kind of thing and the idea just kind of popped into my head," he says.
A moderator monitors the "twibate" and tweets one question every 10 minutes. Candidates tweet their responses and the voters have a chance to ask questions and make their own comments.
"I thought that our real life debates were a little bit of free-for-alls," says candidate Naheed Nenshi.
"This is a bit more than that, but even though we only have 140 characters for each answer, it's actually quite nice to be able to answer so many questions and engage with people and follow up directly. I kind of like it."
Jon Lord, one of the seven candidates who took part, says it was a lot of fun.
"I really like this Twitter stuff. I wish I had a lot more time. And actually at the moment, I'd better answer some questions!"
At another political camp, Craig Burrows welcomes any opportunity to interact with voters. But he admits, there's nothing like addressing voters face to face.
"I find that when people hear my passion in my voice in that reflection, they know that I'm speaking from the heart and I'm speaking with someone with confidence and what I'm trying to do to make a better city," says Burrows.
Perceived frontrunners Ric McIver and Barb Higgins did not take part.
A number of mayoral candidates who were not able to take part Tuesday night will answer the 11 questions posed in the coming days.
Two more online debates or twibates will be held next week for the aldermanic candidates.
On Tuesday, September 21st the focus will be on candidates running in the odd numbered wards.
Candidates of the even numbered wards will debate on Thursday the 23rd.
