ST. PAUL, Minn. -- What do a Hollywood movie star, a Michigan legislator, and a radio talk show host from Seattle all have in common? Along with hundreds of other like-minded Republicans, they all posted videos on YouTube in the last three days during the Republican National Convention.

What makes this user-generated content different is that it's really YouTube-generated. The ubiquitous video site set up mini studios and booths at both the Republican and Democratic conventions, and had a camera crew prowling the hallways, to solicit subjects -- and post the video on the spot.

That's different from the usual process at YouTube, where the company says 13 hours of video are uploaded every minute -- without being prompted by anyone at YouTube.

It's how actor Jon Voight, Michigan state Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer, and conservative talk show host Michael Medved all stated their support for the Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, in St. Paul. (Link To: Voight Video | Elsenheimer Video | Medved Video)

And it's how Vietnam veteran Richard Klass, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and singing star John Legend all explained to the world why they were supporting the Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, in Denver. (Klass Video | Doyle Video | Legend Video)

The candidates also maintain their own YouTube channels. (Visit: Obama's Channel | McCain's Channel | Barr's Channel)

YouTube's Steve Grove, who divides his time between interviewing convention goers and lending a hand at the site's mini studios, said he's pleased and excited about the level of interest the site's YouChoose '08 channel have generated, both among Democrats at their convention last week in Denver, and now in St. Paul with the Republicans. He wouldn't give specific figures, but user traffic to YouTube draws enough of a spike during the conventions to tell the company they've hit a nerve with the online public.

It's a "new way to see things, through the eyes of people who are actually there" at the conventions, campaign stops and beyond, without the filter of editors in the news media, he said. And he welcomes what he calls "the wisdom of crowds" in sorting out which content is useful and truthful.

In Denver, Obama supporters lined up to talk about change in Washington, D.C., and the need to end the Republican tenure in the White House, he said. In St. Paul, McCain supporters have chided Obama's experience as a lawmaker, defended Palin, and spoke out against abortion rights.

And many of those stepping into the YouTube booths at both conventions have never posted video online before, Grove said.

Elsenheimer, who lives in the Traverse City, Mich., area, was one of those first-timers. He and two of his children emerged from one of the YouTube booths on Wednesday, glowing about the speed with which their message in support of McCain was recorded by a video camera built into a laptop computer and pushed out into cyberspace.

But while his own message was wholesome, he said the unfiltered nature of YouTube leaves him troubled at times.

"It's good and bad," he said because "there's such instant access to everything." And anything.