Melbourne, September 20 (ANI): Former vice presidential US candidate Sarah Palin is enjoying a huge fan following on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.

The politician has 850,000 “friends” on Facebook, which is second to President Barack Obama among most popular politician on the site.

Similarly, on Twitter she has close to 140,000 people following her, which again is second only to America’s first man.

The politician’s feeds on these sites have helped put her opinions across on the national health care debate, on energy policy and on tort reform.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, an organization designed to advance pro-life women in politics, and co-founder of Team Sarah, a network of Palin supporters, said: “It’s the most passive form of communication there is, it’s only effective if people are dying to go to your Facebook page. She’s got this quality that Howard Dean had in terms of the completely organic liberal movement he tapped into.”

Also, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer believes Facebook is ideal for Palin, reports the Politico.

Fleischer said: “Facebook is perfectly suited for someone as polarizing as Sarah Palin. It’s the ideal way for her to keep in touch, to rev up her base and go around the mainstream media.”

Palin has avoided television interviews since resigning as the Governor of Alaska.

One former Palin staffer said: “She loves the unfiltered medium because she can make her statement and not be questioned directly about any nuances.

“It speaks to the power of Facebook and social networking in general. Here’s a case where Facebook postings are being picked up by [the Associated Press] and the national media.

“As politicians-we’re taking note of these media based on how well they’re working for her.” (ANI)