MSNBC and Hotsoup.com announced a partnership for the 2006 Midterm Elections…

With election season in full swing, MSNBC.com and MSNBC TV have partnered with HOTSOUP.com®, an issues-based online community where members discuss and debate the topics that are relevant to their lives and critical to the future of the country. Extending well beyond the mid-term elections, the partnership with HOTSOUP.com gives MSNBC.com users a platform and a community through which they can sound off on the issues that impact the nation. HOTSOUP on MSNBC.com can be found at www.politics.msnbc.com.

Every day, MSNBC.com will post the HOTSOUP.com “Hot Loop,” provided by Ron Fournier, editor-in-chief of HOTSOUP.com and former chief political writer for the Associated Press. Loops are the discussion boards embedded throughout HOTSOUP that allow members to go deeper into the dialogue, engage with like-minded individuals and debate those who disagree. Fournier will also write a weekly analysis piece for MSNBC.com.

Since going live on October 19, HOTSOUP has already attracted thousands of members who want to add their opinions to the mix alongside contributors such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, John McCain, Jon Bon Jovi, Karen Hughes, and Lance Armstrong.

On MSNBC TV, HOTSOUP.com co-founders such as Matthew Dowd, chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004, and Joe Lockhart, Bill Clinton’s former press secretary will make weekly appearances on “Hardball” in addition to other appearances on MSNBC programs.

“Those who visit MSNBC.com’s political coverage featuring HOTSOUP will get a powerful combination of smart, coherent conversation and up-to-date news and information,” said Russ Shaw, MSNBC.com deputy news editor.

“HOTSOUP.com is a community for the millions of Americans who want a voice in the public square – a place where they can connect with one another, exchange views and work together on the issues that their leaders too often ignore,” said Ron Fournier, editor-in-chief of HOTSOUP.com “Now the HOTSOUP.com community can have an even stronger voice, as its sentiments will reach the millions of people who turn to MSNBC.com as a source for news and commentary.”

“We’re excited to be able to tap into the HOTSOUP community,” said Tammy Haddad, Vice President, Washington, for MSNBC TV and executive producer of “Hardball.” “HOTSOUP will allow MSNBC to bring the voice of the voter into our political coverage.”