An effective website gets your message across while allowing you to complete transactions such as collecting money, signing up newsletter subscribers, and processing volunteers. At the Obama website, an appealing photo of the candidate surrounded by his family greets visitors on a splash page, which invites everyone to sign up for an email newsletter (and eventual donation solicitations). The Home page then previews videos of Sen. Obama's campaign highlights, such as the speech in Berlin, and provides tools for making donations, volunteering, and getting involved by state.

Sen. McCain's current campaign website features a photo in the banner with the top of his head chopped off. It is a curious image, given that it reduces him in stature and may remind visitors about the frequent factual mistakes that have prompted critics to question his presence of mind. On the other hand, McCain's contribution, volunteering, and other participation tools are very effective and well displayed.

Overall, both sides are represented by top website teams and have excellent fulfillment tools. Obama's site is more effective as a persuasion tool, however, because it is less busy, more like an objective news site, and better at reinforcing his "hope" theme. The McCain campaign's lack of a coherent campaign message is mirrored in the unfocused, shopping mall-type clutter on the home page of their site.  more

The Asian American Action Fund held its annual celebration at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, with 13 Members of Congress and well over 200 people in attendance. To capture the excitement of the evening, videos were shot, edited and posted on the website. Those who were there can re-live the moment, and those who could not attend can see what was happening online.

"Videos can be streamed cheaply and efficiently from YouTube, so every campaign should be using video on its website," said Phil Nash, CEO of Campaign Advantage. "The AAA-Fund fundraiser was a great success, and now everyone can see why for themselves."

The Global Health and Safety Initiative, a collaboration to promote safety and sustainability among some of the leading organizations in the domestic health care sector, launched a new website and wiki to spearhead its efforts.

"We are honored to be the website and internet strategy team chosen to assist GHSI," said Phil Nash, CEO of Campaign Advantage. "Greening the health care sector is urgently needed so that people, profits and the planet are all part of a triple bottom line when thinking about health care."

Campaign Advantage CEO Phil Nash served as the official blogger for the CleanMed 2008 conference, held in Pittsburgh from May 20 to 22, 2008. The conference blog was designed to give real time updates about the conference to the many people around the globe who were interested in promoting sustainability in health care but who could not attend the conference.

"Liveblogging is the best way to promote a conference or other activity to both onsite and offsite participants," said Emi Ireland, President of Campaign Advantage, "and we anticipate that more groups will be doing this in the years ahead."

Campaign Advantage President Emi Ireland authored the chapter on Online Campaigning in a major reference book to be published this year, the Routledge Handbook on Political Management. The book, which includes international experts writing about the various aspects of offline and online campaigning, is edited by Prof. Dennis Johnson of George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM).

"We are proud that Emi was invited to participate in this publication," said Phil Tajitsu Nash, CEO of Campaign Advantage, "and we look forward to publication of the Handbook so that all campaigns can learn the latest strategies and tactics."

As anti-war sentiment has grown in the nation, anti-war veterans have emerged as some of the strongest opponents of Mr. Bush's war. Even when they do not have prior political experience, they are formidable additions to the anti-war debates because of their lived experiences as veterans.

Two of Campaign Advantage's 2008 clients are anti-war veterans who are running as first-time candidates. Jerry Northington, a veterinarian from Delaware, and Paul Renneisen, a business owner from south Florida, are bringing energy and insight to their respective campaigns.

"It has been our privilege to work with candidates such as Jerry and Paul," said Phil Tajitsu Nash, CEO of Campaign Advantage. "Every candidate deserves the best online tools so that they can get their message out. But in this case, the message is important for both the candidates and our country."

Among the first awards won by Campaign Advantage was a website created for an Iraq War veteran, Rick Johnson of Missouri.

Campaign Advantage created a blog for the Asian American Action Fund, an Asian American PAC whose website we created several years ago. Within months of its launch, the blog now has traffic comparable to the website itself.

"This is an example of how a client's needs evolve as the technology evolves," said Phil Tajitsu Nash, CEO of Campaign Advantage. "Once we started the blog and trained their volunteer editors, they have been posting diaries almost every day."

A popular feature on the blog has been the opportunity for any member of the Asian American community to say in 500 words or less why they support any candidate. This, in turn, has led to an upsurge in comments and increased viewership.

Campaign Advantage provides websites, fundraising, and strategic Internet communication tools for candidates and causes. Our services include an integrated website, content management, fundraising, and database system, with the ability to send newsletters, fundraise, recruit volunteers, and keep website content fresh without the assistance of professional coders.

For less than the cost of one direct mail piece, we develop personalized strategic websites that bring in volunteers, voters, and donors throughout your entire campaign. If you are in a contested race, the votes, volunteers, and dollars you raise online may well be the margin of victory. Our services include:

• Internet campaign websites
• Secure online fundraising
• Volunteer recruitment
• Electronic voter contact
• Database integration

Campaign Advantage is a leader in the field of online political fundraising. Our award-winning book, Winning Campaigns Online, is widely used by campaigns, party officials, and on college campuses, and our fundraising techniques have been excerpted in Campaigns & Elections magazine and other national publications.