In 2004, Howard Dean as a candidate sought to build on an employer-based health care system in order to cover millions of Americans that currently lack coverage.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

The primary goal was to keep fans engaged and coming to the ballpark despite a bad season on the diamond by having fans submit questions via Twitter to television broadcasters, andplayers like Cy Young candidate Clayton Kershaw (who is trying to build an orphanage in Zambia) and MVP candidate Matt Kemp be guest tweeters for an entire day.

FORBES: Dodgers Discover They Still Have Global Fan Base With Social Media Drive

Some see it as a good merger candidate for NYSE, which is eager to build on its options trading capabilities.

FORBES: A New Kind Of Exchange

Gingrich has seized this opening to build his appeal as the conservative candidate who can defeat President Barack Obama by making monetary reform integral to his campaign to increase the prosperity, security and liberty of the American people.

FORBES: Gingrich, The Gold Standard, And The Florida Primary

Separately, in August, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the former GOP vice presidential candidate, signed a bill allowing TransCanada Alaska to build a 1, 715-mile natural gas pipeline from the North Slope's Prudhoe Bay to Alberta, Canada.

CNN: Study: Tap natural gas from Alaska's frozen areas

EmployInsight is a new company which collects candidate data and offers in-line assessments online, attempting to build up a global skills database.

FORBES: Social Recruiting Goes Wild