Cyberspace was supposed to elevate politics. Then reality hit

Once seen as more substantive and democratic than TV, digital electioneering hasn’t exactly brought more gravity to picking a president.

Five days before Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton to win the 2016 U.S. presidential election, I wrote a story that turned the presidential politics clock back to 1992. That was the first year the campaign had a digital element—particularly for underdog candidates such as former Irvine, California, Mayor Larry Agran. Unable to get mainstream news outlets to pay attention to his bid, Agran did something no would-be president had ever done. He held a press conference that was virtual, because it took place on CompuServe, the largest online service of the time.