White leads in Facebook followers

AUSTIN (KXAN) - If money talks, some said social media screams.

Scrolling through Bill White's campaign Facebook page , Phillip Martin could not help but notice the number of followers – nearly 139,000.

"I think the more people you can talk to, the better you can engage with people, and the easier it is to move message, attract field workers and volunteers obviously and raise money,” Martin said.

Martin works with the Texas Democratic Trust , which just released a report called "How Bill White is Winning the Social Media Race." The report said White and his fans interacted twice as much as Republican Gov. Rick Perry , who has about 92,000 fewer followers than his Democratic opponent.

The report also said White has raised more money online and has more contributors to his campaign. However, in the latest campaign finance filings, Perry had around four times as much money on-hand. He stands at $10 million, while White has $2.75 million.

White's campaign said that big difference comes since the Democrat has already spent nearly $11 million, much of that in television ads.

"Have you ever tried to check into a hotel the night before opposed to doing it well in advance,” White said Tuesday at a campaign stop in Austin. “You get a better value, if you spend in advance."

When asked at a speaking engagement in Austin how he would use his monetary advantage, Perry said, "My job as governor is to go remind people how lucky they are to be living in a state doing as well as Texas is doing."

Yet, CNN reported directly after the nation's September primaries, the new techy trend seemed many candidates with more Facebook fans won out.

"More people visit Facebook than Wikipedia, YouTube, Google, Bing and Twitter combined,” Martin said.

Facebook is the No. 1 social networking site in the country.

According to the TDT report, three Texas cities - Houston, Dallas and San Antonio - rank in the top 10 for Facebook use in the country. At least 60 percent of people living in those cities are on Facebook.