The Hill News

Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) continues his reign as champion of the Republican tweeters.

For the second year in a row, Fleming won the Republican New Media Challenge, a contest that measured Twitter followers, Facebook "likes" and YouTube video views over a six-week period from May 16 to June 24.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), whose office oversaw the competition, announced the winners Thursday.

Fleming said in a press release that the key to his success is "as simple as listening and engaging with your constituents."

Republicans have kept up their enthusiasm for social media in the wake of the scandal over former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner's (N.Y.) Twitter use.

"House Republicans are keeping the pedal to the metal in the digital space," said McMorris Rodgers. According to her office, more than 80 percent of the Republican Conference, including 90 percent of the freshman class, now use Twitter, Facebook and Y! ouTube.

"For Republicans, [social media is] very important because we can get around the national media, who tend to be liberal," Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) said on a conference call last week. "So any way that we can get our message out to people is very important, and this is a very good one."

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