Republican Rudolph Giuliani is one of the many candidates for President who are out meeting citizens. (Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

The election for the new President of the United States is more than a year away, but Election 2008 is off to a very early start.

Candidates in both the Democratic and Republican parties have been participating in debates for months and traveling around the country speaking to voters. The candidates hope to be their political parties' nominee for President.

The Internet is having a great influence on the race for President. For example, during a recent debate, about 20 questions from ordinary citizens were asked of candidates through the use of YouTube. Usually, debate questions are asked by reporters.

The Internet allows people to learn about candidates faster and is believed to be encouraging young people to think about the presidential campaign. Many of the citizens whose questions were aired during the YouTube-sponsored debate were in their teens and twenties.

"Being able to go online and post your own material gives you a way to participate in the process," says Kathleen Hall Jamieson. Jamieson is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and an expert in politics. "[Young people need] to understand the issues that are going to affect them for many years to come," she adds.

Citizens play a key role in choosing the Democratic and Republican nominees for President. Starting in January, each state will hold a primary election or a caucus. In primaries, voters pick their favorite presidential candidate. In caucuses, voters choose delegates to statewide conventions on behalf of a candidate.

Interest in a candidate increases after a primary or a caucus victory. So getting off to a fast start in these contests is important.