In msnbc.com’s first interactive vice presidential game – www.veepstakes.msnbc.com – users played the pundit and voted each week for their favorite candidates. Now msnbc.com’s users have proven their political savvy by accurately predicting the number two on the Democratic ticket.
“Veepstakes ’08,” a tournament-style bracket game, began with 32 potential vice presidents for the Democratic ticket. After the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and Final Four rounds, msnbc.com users chose between Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in July’s championship matchup. Biden, the Delaware senator, won with 55 percent of the online vote. On August 23, weeks later, Barack Obama’s campaign announced that Biden will be his running mate.
Msnbc.com’s “Veepstakes ‘08” ran through the summer and featured candidate biographies, commentary and handicapping of the matchups by NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd. Appearing alongside Todd in weekly “Veepstakes ‘08” videos were NBC News’ Chief White House Correspondent and MSNBC’s “Race for the White House” host David Gregory as well as NBC News’ Deputy Political Director Mark Murray. The coverage produced nearly 6.5 million page views and more than 600,000 votes were cast in the game.
“This unique interactive game made msnbc.com readers political analysts as they weighed the options and voted candidates into the next round,” said Lauren Vicary, political editor for msnbc.com. “We offer comprehensive Decision ‘08 coverage with the power of NBC News behind us and this gave us one more way to capture the imagination of our audience during this historic political season.”
“Veepstakes ‘08” also featured a Republican contest in which msnbc.com users picked Mitt Romney as John McCain’s running mate with 57 percent of the vote. Could the wisdom of the msnbc.com crowd in “Veepstakes ‘08” prevail?