Netroots Nation, the influential network of liberal online organizers, is in Austin for its annual meeting.

The event features 2,000 bloggers and speakers including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, General Wesley Clark and Democratic National Party Chairman Howard Dean.

Texan Nate Wilcox researched the Netroots for his new book, Netroots Rising. He says that the Internet has effectively become today's town hall.

"You're actually seeing politics go back to what it used to be. In the 1800's friends and neighbors got together and spoke about politics. And that's what you're seeing online," Wilcox said.

While they can meet in cyberspace everyday, the convention is an opportunity for face-to-face meetings, panels and discussions like any other type of convention.

"You can just convey so much more information face to face, tones, smiles, handshakes, than you can online," said Wilcox.

So far, the political left has dominated the cyber-field, while conservatives have relied on talk radio and cable TV.

But conservatives are catching up. Just across Austin, about 500 conservatives are gathering for new media training of their own.

"We have such strong activist base and infrastructure, we're looking for how to transfer that online," said Erik Telford, new media director for Americans for Prosperity.