Four years ago, YouTube didn't exist and Google wasn't a major player at the conventions. That's changed in 2008.
Yesterday, Google unveiled new political applications in front of a gathering of journalists in D.C., and today the Wall Street Journal reports that the company will set up a "two-story, 8,000 square-foot headquarters for hundreds of bloggers" at the Democratic Convention, with a similar setup at the Republican gathering.
With its financial support for the "Big Tent" blogger facility at the Democratic convention, Google stands to gain exposure and goodwill from 500 or so bloggers who paid $100 for access to the facility, run by a coalition of bloggers. Google's software and services will be featured, including a kiosk in the public area of the tent where anyone can post videos on YouTube.
With the potential for a blogger around almost every corner and delegates with cellphone cameras everywhere, including private parties that shut out journalists and bloggers, privacy will be hard to come by.
If that's not enough, Google's also partnered with Vanity Fair on a much-hyped, end-of-the-convention bash.
