Reviewing the Presidential Campaign Websites

Behind the link are my first impressions of the Internet presences of the top US presidential candidates for each party. Any website design pros care to chime in?

Democrats:

Hillary Clinton: Good professional web site. Using a photo where the Senator is smirking for the main image of the candidate strikes me as a bad idea since it re-enforces some negatives. Fourth overall in seeming to encourage supporter action/participation.

John Edwards: A bit of a disorganized mess. The Edwards campaign needs to hire a professional web designer (or fire the one they have). Bunch of links to the Edwards campaign's accounts on various social networking sites (no multiply though). Second overall in seeming to encourage supporter action/participation.

Barak Obama: Very clean and professional. Links to the Obama campaign's accounts on a few social networking sites. First overall in seeming to encourage supporter action/participation. Supporter area has its own social networking features. Best campaign web site by far.

Republicans:

Rudy Giuliani: What is with the flags at the top pointing in all different directions? Don't know which way you are going? Also what is with that candidate photo? It makes Giuliani look like a villain out of a comic book. This site looks like something from 8 years ago in terms of design and content. For "participation" it appears to just ask for money and allow you to sign up for his email list. Worst overall in seeming to encourage supporter action/participation.

John McCain: Eeek! What is with the funeral colors? They seem kind of creepy. Might work as black and white if white was the dominant color. The site is a bit of a bandwidth/browser pig. Other than those two issues the cleanest site other than Obama's. Third overall in seeming to encourage supporter action/participation.

Mitt Romney: Good professional site. Good choice of images. Fifth overall in seeming to encourage supporter action/participation.

Re:Sure, I'll chime in

[Ethelred Unraed]

What? You mean you didn't pre-order her Playboy spread?

Cheers,

Ethelred

You forgot Al Gore's site

[WillAffleckUW]

It's at the Oscars.

I'll be on the Gore/Obama 08 ticket ...

Re:Sure, I'll chime in

[Ethelred Unraed]

But I didn't even mention the Madeleine Albright one yet.

I'm sorry. I'll stop now.

Helen Thomas!

I'm sorry. Really.

OK, now maybe I need mental floss.

Cheers,

Ethelred

Kneel before Zod!

[Dachannien]

Hey, you folks forgot somebody! [zod2008.com]

Re:Netcrafts of each site

[belmolis]

Very informative. I'd have a hard time voting for someone with a Microsoft site.

Re:sites

[CrackedButter]

Clinton's website needs more blinking text.

John McCain is scary

[mattbelcher]

I used to like John McCain, but this web site makes me think he's the Dark Lord of the Sith. Just watch the "Stand Up" video. Is that the theme from "Crimson Tide" in the background? Somebody tell him the American public wants less imperialism, not more.

Validation

[AndrewNeo]

Well, Mitt Romney's the only one that passes W3C validation, so he gets my vote?

A Captian America Villian

[Original Replica]

It makes Giuliani look like a villain out of a comic book.

I think you are thinking of Red Skull. Yeah, he always looks like that. You get used to it.http://www.newsaramablog.com/gallery/albums/use rpics/10006/redskull.jpg [newsaramablog.com]

Re:Sure, I'll chime in

[mcd7756]

So about this Lovecraftian Elder God...sounds pretty good considering the alternatives mentioned above. Where do I go to sign up?

Re:Sure, I'll chime in

[edward2020]

It will be meeting with local civic and buissness leaders at Miskatonic University for a town hall type meeting. Also, It will appear on the O'Reilly Factor as well as Meet the Nation. More information can be had by performing the ritual found on page 42 of the Necronamacon. Madness awaits!!!

Re:My thoughts

[great throwdini]

If you're somebody who creates web sites ... the [meaningful] difference [between HTML 4 and XHTML 1] should be obvious. If it isn't, well, what can I say?

You wrote two paragraphs to supply a non-answer? Good to see the ACs putting in equal time, here.