Tracy Russo currently directs the new media strategy at the United States Department of Justice. Prior to joining the Justice Department she formed Russo Strategies, LLC, a progressive political consulting firm that specialized in new media strategies.

During the 2008 presidential primary, as the chief blogger and deputy director of online communications for the John Edwards campaign, she directed and executed an online communications and outreach strategy. She also helped to develop and execute an aggressive online fundraising strategy and mobile media plan.

Prior to joining the Edwards campaign, Russo worked at the DNC. She has been a featured speaker at the YearlyKos Convention, the Take Back America Conference and the Center for American Progress' Internet Advocacy Roundtable and Personal Democracy Forum. In addition, she has worked partnership with a variety of organizations, including the DNC, DLCC, EMILY's List, Campaigns and Elections Magazine, and the New Organizing Institute and George Washington University training individuals at home and abroad in the best practices of online engagement .

Hear who inspires Tracy, and what she has to say about how the blogoshere has impacted presidential politics.

Yesterday, things got a bit heated on the plenary session with the presidential campaign internet staffers. Mark Soohoo, the deputy internet director of the John McCain, was defending his boss for not personally understanding how to use a computer. Tracy Russo, Soohoo's counterpart on the John Edwards campaign (where she was deputy director of online communication), took issue with Soohoo, and then the fireworks started. Video after the jump...

With the top 50 political blogs getting 95% of the traffic, has a Blogosphere Establishment formed? Does the word blogger suffice to describe people who may be practicing journalism, activism or campaigning for a candidate, sometimes all at once, sometimes not? Should top bloggers practice a kind of affirmative action in who they link to or highlight? Six top political bloggers tackle these questions and others...