Twitter Wars: Who's Battling Who on Twitter?

July 20, 2011 -- intro: Social media ventures like Twitter and Facebook have given leaders a new platform to campaign, complain and -- best of all -- fight. In light of Karl Rove and Claire McCaskill's recent Twitter tiff, we break down some recent Twitter feuds from Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

quicklist: 1category: Crash Landingtitle: Karl Rove vs. Claire McCaskillurl: text: Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., tweeted this 10 days after Republican strategist Karl Rove began a million-dollar ad campaign attacking her support of the federal stimulus program and bank bailout, and raising the nation's debt limit:

"Just gave Karl Rove a wave & friendly hi in St Louis airport. Even tho he's up on TV distorting my record, still wanted to show good manners."

An hour later, Rove shot back:

"Saw @clairecmc @ St Louis airport - she waved but wasn't happy. Must be @crossroadsgps ads on her bad votes/broken promises 2 cut spending."

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quicklist: 2category: Tweeting Off Tracktitle: Romney aide Eric Fehrnstrom vs. Obama advisor David Axelrodurl: text: Referring to a quote by an aide to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in a Wall Street Journal article, President Obama's 2012 campaign advisor, David Axelrod, tweeted of the Republican presidential candidate:

"Romney does it again! Turns 'cut, cap and balance' into 'punt, pass and kick' by refusing to commit to numbers."

Romney's senior advisor, Eric Fehrnstrom, shot back:

"It's too bad President Obama isn't as good at creating jobs as @davidaxelrod is at creating diversions."

Read up on the candidates' positions on the debt ceiling HERE.

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quicklist: 3category: Trick or Tweettitle: Tim Pawlenty vs. Conan O'Brienurl: text: Comedian Conan O'Brien tweeted about Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor:

"Is it too early to predict that Tim Pawlenty will not be a popular Halloween costume?"

Pawlenty fired back with a not so "Minnesota nice" reply:

"@ConanOBrien Wait until I unveil my Team Coco wig then everyone will want the costume. It might even deliver IA for me #ginger #iacaucus"

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quicklist: 4category: Town Hall Ambushtitle: John Boehner vs. President Obamaurl: text: On the day of a "Twitter Town Hall," President Obama addressed questions about jobs from people who tweeted #AskObama.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, took this as an opportunity to take a jab at the president, tweeting:

"Will you outline a plan #4jobs - other than more spending - for the American people? http://bit.ly/jr7prr #askobama GOP plan: jobs.gop.gov."

Later, the speaker tweeted:

"With 9.1% unemployment & 'shovel ready' jobs a bust, will you admit the 'stimulus' was a mistake? http://bit.ly/oTK17f #askobama," and, "Republicans #askobama to outline plan #4jobs that doesn't involve more spending, taxing, regulating http://j.mp/o1bpzE @townhall."

Boehner does not personally do the tweeting for his account. It's handled by staff.

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quicklist: 5category: Spokesmen Spartitle: Brendan Buck vs. Dan Pfeifferurl: text: The debt debate has the spokesmen all riled up.

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer recently tweeted:

"Cut, Cap and Balance = Duck, Dodge, and Dismantle. Would put into the Constitution the Ryan Plan on steroids."

Brendan Buck, an aide to House Speaker John Boehner, replied:

"So, @Pfeiffer44, we're dismantling govt spending, but still dodging spending cuts? Fail."

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