Tens of thousands of MySpace users have logged on to lob questions directly at presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama during Tuesday night’s televised town hall meeting.

The joint venture between the Commission on Presidential Debates and MySpace, one of the largest social networking sites, is the latest wrinkle in the ongoing quest to update electoral traditions.

“Our goal is to democratize democracy,” said MySpace spokesman Lee Brenner, “to bring as many people into the process as possible.”

The opportunity to send questions in to MyDebates.org ended Friday. Brenner said he didn’t know how many users sent in questions, but said they were on the order of “tens of thousands.” Users could also register opinions on various political issues, the results of which are available on the site, and offer a snapshot of the youngish MySpace demographic.

Questions from MySpace users will be provided to moderator Tom Brokaw, host of “Meet the Press,” who will supervise the meeting between McCain and Obama. Presented in a town hall meeting format, the event takes place on the Belmont University campus in Nashville.

Brenner couldn’t say which questions Brokaw might use, or how he will sift through the suggestions.

“We’re handing over the list to Tom Brokaw,” he said. “He makes the decision about which, if any, to use.”