McCain Celebrates Twitter Success

July 14, 2009

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., appears to have come along way with his technology literacy since the 2008 presidential campaign. On Monday, his account on the micro-blogging Web site Twitter topped one million followers. "I'm both honored and humbled that over one million people follow me on Twitter. It has been one of the most enjoyable experiences in my long political career - not too bad for an old guy," McCain said in a statement. Flashback to July 2008: McCain told the New York Times in an interview that he was learning how to use a computer but isn't an e-mail enthusiast.

"I don't e-mail, I've never felt the particular need to e-mail," he said. "I don't expect to be a great communicator. I don't expect to set up my own blog." At the time, McCain said he was "becoming computer literate to the point where I can get the information that I need including going to my daughter's blog." Meghan McCain wrote McCainBlogette.com during the campaign. He also told the newspaper that his staff surfs the Web on his behalf.

A few recent McCain tweets:

# Live interview with Russ Clark, KBLU-AM 560 in Yuma, AZ @ 10:45 am ET to chat about my upcoming trip to Yuma on Friday.about 1 hour ago
# Wow, I just went over 1 million followers - thanks everyone!!about 19 hours ago
# Interview with Voice of America on upcoming Afghanistan elections.
# Fighting the good fight on Senate floor 2 strike F-22 funding from DoD bill -saving the taxpayer $1.75 b - Need Joint Strike Fighter insteadabout 23 hours ago

And here are a few folks McCain is following on Twitter: CNN's Larry King; comedian Rainn Wilson ("The Office"); House Minority Whip Eric Cantor; Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La.; Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.; basketball star Shaquille O'Neal; Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn.; ABC's George Stephanopoulos; NBC's David Gregory; and McCain's daughter, Meghan. (Psst, President Obama has 1.7 million Twitter followers -- and McCain isn't one of them).

Juliana Gruenwald

Tech Writer

E-Mail: jgruenwald@nationaljournal.com.

Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.

Josh Smith

Tech Reporter

E-Mail: joshsmith@nationaljournal.com.

Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.

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