The purpose of this paper is to present the results of our research on Internet using by candidates for councilor in Curitiba, Florianópolis and Porto Alegre. From the examination of virtual campaign of candidates who used websites among about 1.400 applicants for the positions for its offices in these capitals, we evaluate the use of these politicians have made the Internet in municipal elections in October 2008. Our basic hypothesis is that the web pages of candidates for elected office, especially the council, served mainly to disseminate traditional political practices, strengthening personalistic and clientelistic ties with the electorate.
online campaign; patronage; internet and politics
