This year’s crop of gubernatorial hopefuls entered into unchartered waters with its attempts to put together a successful Web site.
From campaign platforms to breaking news to fund-raising opportunities, Internet campaigning is considered to be a new facet in the world of political campaigns.
“This is the first campaign where the Web has displayed such a major presence,” said Wayne Parent, University political science chairman.
In past elections, candidates’ Web sites were not as popular but now are vital, Parent said.
He said it is too early to tell if this year’s gubernatorial candidates were helped or hurt by their Web sites.
“I do not think the Web makes a difference between winning and losing, but it has become a central theme among candidates,” Parent said. “It is not as important as ads, but it is just as important as newspaper coverage.”
This year all seven major candidates maintained Web sites with extensive information about their plans and contact information.
But not every voter is logged on to the idea of perusing the Internet for facts on political candidates.
Christian Long, a general business senior, said he never consulted the Internet for information on the candidates.
“I looked at the newspaper mostly and also talked with friends and families,” Long said.
Shonda Williams, a psychology senior, said she also never found a reason to consult the Internet.
“I go to class all day, and I have about a 30-minute break, and I would rather check my e-mail than look into candidates on their sites,” Williams said.
Nationwide, candidates also are walking blindly into Internet campaigning.
But Howard Dean, a Democratic presidential hopeful, has taken full advantage of the Web.
David Perlmutter, a mass communication associate professor, said Dean’s fund raising has come almost entirely from the Web, and so far he has gained close to $13 million.
“His Web site is not pretty, but it is very interactive,” Perlmutter said.
The site’s interactiveness has allowed for easier fund-raising methods, Perlmutter said.
“Campaigns would always have a drop off between what people promised and what they actually gave, and now you go to a Web site and click-click-click and your money is in the bank,” Perlmutter said.
The need for campaign Web sites is a result of the American public’s isolation from being involved in political parties, Perlmutter said.
“Now political activism can be defined by moving a mouse rather than hitting the streets,” Perlmutter said.
Parent said Internet campaigning still is in its infancy stages and therefore has not made a major contribution for fund raising locally but it will in upcoming elections.
Parent said once people become familiar with donating over the Web it will “totally change the landscape of how candidates raise money.”