As I watched the Democratic and Republican debates live on CNN, I also had my laptop open and tuned to CNN.com’s live streaming video of the same debates.

Why on earth would I do that?

Someone over at CNN and CNN Pipeline had a great idea…let’s put the tool that political pollsters, researchers, and strategists like Frank Luntz use and put that online.

It’s called the dial-meter where a group of people watching the debate turn their dial positive or turn their dial negative based on their impression of what a candidate is saying.

As candidates speak, you get to see real-time positive or negative feedback from the wisdom of crowds vs. single pundits.

CNN got a two-for-one with me…double the amount of media impressions for one viewer.

Therefore, theoretically, double the amount of advertising revenue for CNN.

Perhaps the smartest use of two media platforms in one media event ever.

Someone at CNN is getting the new media world (at least on the political side).

Provide content which one medium can’t deliver, and put it on another medium…then promote.

I was hooked.

Live, you could see for yourself how people reacted to Hillary (quite well actually).

You could see that McCain needED to step up his game, and abandon his current stance on immigration.

You could also see the swing vote for “Reagan Democrats” will be won over on one issue apart from Iraq…the environment.

Data is a wonderful thing. I’m now glued to the dial-meter technology offered by CNN.com for every upcoming debate.

Somebody at CNN.com knew what they were doing, and its fresh to see.

Mark Hughes is a professional speaker, consultant, and author of the book Buzzmarketing: Get People to Talk About Your Stuff (Penguin/Portfolio).

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