Presidential hopefuls log-on to MySpace

A series of live chats with presidential candidates due to be shown on US television channel MTV will also be broadcast simultaneously on MySpace.

The programmes will take the form of debates held on university campuses between young Americans and the 11 presidential hopefuls.

Questions will come from the live studio audiences, as well as emails, text messages and instant messages from online viewers.

The event is an unlikely collaboration between two competing media companies, with News Corp's MySpace sharing content with Viacom's MTV.

A similar event recently broadcast on CNN posed recorded questions from YouTube users.

Ian Rowe, vice president of strategic partnerships at MTV, said that the debates would be the first true digital representation of the community.

Candidates already confirmed to participate in the MySpace and MTV Presidential Dialogue series include:

Former Senator John Edwards
(www.myspace.com/johnedwards)
Sam Brownback
(www.myspace.com/sambrownback)
Senator Hillary Clinton
(www.myspace.com/HillaryClinton)
Senator Chris Dodd
(www.myspace.com/senatordodd)
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani
(www.myspace.com/joinrudy2008)
Republican Duncan Hunter
(www.myspace.com/duncanhunter)
Senator John McCain
(www.myspace.com/johnmccain)
Senator Barack Obama
(www.myspace.com/barackobama)
Republican Ron Paul
(www.myspace.com/ronpaul2008)
Governor. Bill Richardson
(www.myspace.com/richardsonforpresident)
Former Governor. Mitt Romney
(www.myspace.com/mittromney)