CHARLESTON, S.C., July 23 (UPI) -- Millions of Americans who can't afford computers let alone Internet access are being left out of the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign.
Monday night's Democratic candidates' debate in Charleston, S.C., is a perfect example of the digital divide that leaves poor Americans unable to take part in the process, The Washington Post reported Monday.
Co-sponsored by the Website YouTube, questions for the debate have to be sent via the Internet in video form.
"Our presidential candidates may all have BlackBerrys but they have no vision when it comes to bringing all our citizens to the 21st century," Andrew Rasiej, co-founder of TechPresident, a blog that tracks the online campaign, told the Post.
Between 40 percent and 45 percent of Charleston residents have high-speed access to the Internet, a figure pretty much in line with the rest of the country according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
As for African-Americans, the latest figures show that their broadband use has increased to 40 percent this year but continues to lag behind whites and English-speaking Latinos.
