David Esrati for Congress

Speaking of the internet’s giant role in politics, a great Ad man (of The Next Wave) and colleague in Dayton, Ohio is running for congress. He announced mid-December.

Congress: David Esrati for Congress
I hope that my open campaign, utilizing the Internet and Web 2.0 technology, along with the power of true ideas- can not only power this campaign to win, but that we can bring the disenfranchised and disgusted back into the fold.

And Ernie Schenck, author of The Houdini Solution and big-time Ad man himself, is spreading the word.

David puts it best here:

Ernie Schenck Calls This Advertising?: Esrati For Congress. Or Else.
I’ve used my personal blog to share my ideas for a better future for the last three years- it’s my intention to continue to use this technology to keep in touch with the people I hope to represent.

Hope that gets you started into the web of articles and information encircling his run for office. It’s a new day in politics. A great time for change.

Dare I say … The Next Wave?

Good Morning, Internet! Where’s Your Vote?

Whoa! On December 16, 2007, Ron Paul collected more money in a single day through Internet donations than any presidential candidate in US history, with over $6 million.

You are sitting in an important seat right now – one in front of a computer. Things are happening online this election, and smart candidates are taking advantage of the fact that their online behavior plays a big part in the election.

You’re in the driver’s seat. Here, you can go wherever you want, read whatever you want, and make your own decisions.

Good or bad, it’s on the internet. For you.

Fear the family sitting in a pastel-colored living room, eating complacent popcorn on a floral-patterned couch as they watch whatever the TV stations allow them to watch. Whatever the monopolistic network companies have filtered through this family’s satellite. Whoever the TV wants them to vote for.

So, as people turn to the internet for real, objective answers (or as they search, and hopefully find them), candidates are learning to give them what they want.

What better place to lay it all out? Straight from the source. Bam.

2008 Presidential Candidates

Go here for a list of every candidate.

Here are some that I’ve chosen to research and link for your convenience. Sweet!

Ron Paul, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, Daily Paul

Barack Obama, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter

John Edwards, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter

Hillary Clinton, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter

Googling for Candidates?

Be careful where you click. Presidential candidates are buying key search terms on Google, which means many people will find themselves reading about the candidate with the most spending power… just because the candidate spent the most money.

But that’s nothing new. The scary part? “It seems to be working,” said Jeremy Crane, director-search and online media at web analytics firm Compete. “People are clicking on these links.” – Ad Age

Whether they are finding the pages they wanted more easily, or are landing on the opponent’s page, is not clear. But it’s definitely another reason to get your head into the Google search game.

Which, to the surprise of most, doesn’t mean buying search terms. There’s another way. All you have to do is keep a WordPress weblog (like this one) and update it regularly. Using specific keywords and categories relevant to your topic will bring you to the top of Google searches. And what’s better than being at the top of Google (for free)?

So… why don’t political candidates have blogs? Some do. But they all should. And so should everyone else, with something to say.

I learned a lot about the web in Dayton, Ohio at a Websitetology seminar. Go to one. You’ll learn a whole lot, meet some cool people, and get a free muffin from Starbuck’s.