Since Twitter and Facebook are being taken down by cyber-attacks today, it seems like a good time to survey the increasing use of social networks by politicians and candidates for political office. Let's use the developing 2010 election for Senator from North Carolina as an example.

In 2010, John Thune will face his first re-election campaign since unseating Tom Daschle in 2004. His seat is considered one of the safest of all incumbent Republicans. This is helped along by the fact that he has no challenger in sight.