The New Nation - Internet Edition

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A US television network's recent suspension of a correspondent for suggesting Hillary Clinton had "pimped out" her daughter, Chelsea, to win votes has cast a spotlight on the role played by would-be first daughters on the campaign trail.

Ex-first daughter Chelsea Clinton is campaigning for her mother, Hillary

Debate has raged in the blogosphere over whether MSNBC was right to take action against reporter David Shuster for his comment - he later apologised twice - following a complaint by Hillary Clinton.

White House hopefuls' daughters were traditionally wallflowers wheeled out occasionally to help project a cosy family image.

But a new breed is now taking centre stage to harvest the coveted votes of that once elusive demographic, the MTV Generation.

After declining nearly continuously for three decades, young voter turnout in America has been on the increase since 2000 and is forecast to go up again this year.

There are nearly 44m 18- to 29-year-old citizens in the US and more than 20m of them voted in 2004 - 4.3m more than in 2000.

The showing of under 30-year-old voters at polling stations over the past two months in primaries and caucuses has quadrupled in some states since the last primary season in 2004.

The Bush twins got into trouble in connection with underage drinking Twenty-somethings Chelsea Clinton, Republican front-runner John McCain's daughter, Meghan, and Mike Huckabee's daughter, Sarah, are all making an impact on the stump this year.

Groups that encourage youth poll participation, like Rock the Vote, believe the involvement of candidates' young adult offspring in campaigns has been crucial to combating ballot apathy.

Rock the Vote spokeswoman Chrissy Faessen said: "It's absolutely critical to have these young people out engaging young voters in college campuses and other places."

The American Association of Political Consultants believes the candidates' daughters can also significantly boost their parents' popularity with voters.

Spokesperson Cathy Allen said: "This is the year of the young voter and these articulate young ladies are excellent role models who are bringing politics to their peer group.

"It also impresses voters to see a presidential candidate has done well in their most important job - as parents, raising their children right."

But these precocious young women do not always hit the right note on, or off, the campaign trail.

Alexandra Kerry made headlines in a see-through dress at Cannes

US President George W Bush's daughters, first twins Barbara and Jenna, cracked jokes at a Republican convention during his re-election campaign in 2004, although their gags did not win rave reviews.

Worse still, the twins' brushes with the law in connection with underage drinking once provoked a national debate in the US on young people and alcohol.

They are, of course, not the first party girls to grace 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Theodore Roosevelt's daughter Alice was a self-proclaimed hedonist with a love of bawdy jokes, while Ronald Reagan's rebel daughter, Patti Davis, posed nude for Playboy.

Meanwhile, ex-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's daughter, Alexandra, caused a stir in a see-through dress on the red carpet at Cannes in 2004.