The Daily Digest, 2/5/07

The Web on the Candidates

• ZDNet tech blogger Donna Bogatin examines the online outreach of Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) and the results are mixed. She labeled his announcement speech ìstaidî and failing to make him stand out from other candidates declaring online. Questioning Biden's ability to connect to potential voters, Bogatin writes, "Perhaps Jill [Biden] should give Joe lessons in networking" after photos of the senator's wife receive more attention than the senator himself.
• Jeremy Bronson, reporting for MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, chronicled how candidates are combating the YouTube effect and trying to turn it around in their favor.
• Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) demonstrated that he is not bound to healthcare special interests by standing on an office chair with his arms up while a woman spun him. Thanks to the blogs, stills of the demonstration are available to more than a roomful of supporters. Pictures available at Blue Hampshire and New Hampshire Presidential Watch.
• Volunteer supporters of Barack Obama (D-IL) are building online infrastructure at ObamaCorps.org to add to the buzz around the junior senator and help raise awareness of his candidacy. MyDD's Matt Stoller describes it as a combination of Digg and DailyKos.

The Candidates on the Web

• Former Senator Mike Gravel (D-AK) remodeled his campaign website, encompassing elements from rival websites: "top stories" (basically anything that mentions his name positively) and "latest videos." The layout, however, appears cluttered and disorganized.
• Senator Sam Brownback"s (R-KS) home on the web is virtually untouched since he announced his official candidacy. The "In the News"" section is a bit dated, too, with the latest news from late November. Not much else can be said for former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR) and his campaign site. The only facet that has seen any change is the calendar.
• The campaign website for Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) isn't even drawing crickets. No welcome message, no backgrounders on Rep. Paul, no signs of life. A different background color just so we know someone is paying attention to the site would be helpful.
• Kucinich (D-OH) has a new YouTube video of an interview posted on his vlog from CheshireTV. Hold your keyboards, the interview is 45 minutes long.