Townhall.com The Blogspot for Political, Conservative and Republican Blogs and Bloggers

Friday, February 16, 2007

McCain's Nifty New Website

Posted by: Matt Lewis at 12:40 PM

CNN’s Abbi Tatton – along with the Heritage Foundation's Rob Bluey, Online Strategist David All, and yours truly – just got a preview of the John McCain’s new website (which will go live this afternoon).

The new site will be JohnMcCain.com (the old site was at ExploreMcCain.com). They’ve kept the black-and-white theme (which they believe projects seriousness and highlights his experience) and added lots of new and exciting features.

In fact, even the navigation bar is explained by Sen. McCain, via video. For example, if you want to click on “get breaking news,” McCain can, via video, explain to you what this section of the website is.

The main feature of the site is a large video box, which features an inspiring montage video of John McCain. Highly produced quick shots of McCain are accompanied by Rockyesque background music. Another video (which was sent out on Ronald Reagan’s birthday) shows several pictures of McCain with Reagan and Goldwater. While it is clear that McCain is tying himself to these two men – the relationships were sincere. McCain arguably knew Reagan better than any current GOP presidential candidate, and he also currently occupies Goldwater’s Senate seat.

Perhaps the most interesting (and interactive) page is called: McCainSpace.

This is essentially an online McCain-community which encourages anyone to create a blog, tell their own story, and raise money for the campaign. Users will be able to set fundraising goals, challenge friends to support McCain, and even thank their friends for making a donation. Additionally, folks can upload a YouTube video question for McCain.

Web strategist David All noted that the site lacks social networking features such as: Flickr, MySpace, Facebook, etc. These features will be included in future upgrades to the site.

3edc is the web vendor. Other companies supporting this effort include Campaign Solutions, New Media Communications, and Integrated Web Strategy.

Why unveil it today? Tomorrow, McCain will hold his first Town Hall meeting in Iowa. The video will be streamed live at 10 am central time.

From a strategic standpoint, I give the McCain campaign (and Spencer Whelan, who invited us) very high scores for bringing members of the new media into their headquarters for this briefing.

This is further proof that, when it comes to "new media," McCain's team "gets it."

Exclusive: Conservative Congressman, Chip Pickering Endorses John McCain for President

(7) |

(0)

View in ascending order

View in descending order

IfAFrogHadWings writes:	Friday, February, 16, 2007 2:37 PM
Too many portraits
I know it's not the visual message intended, but having so many portraits--Hollywood headshot poses--of Senator McCain staring us in the face, might lead one to believe that the Senator is a little too full of himself. Maybe it's just a Midwestern thing, to notice that, but.... I'd rather see some kind of personal history album of photos--not just an old bald guy in a nice suit. And showing his age doesn't help him, I don't think.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

John Hall writes:	Friday, February, 16, 2007 3:58 PM
This...
...site is great. But it shouldn't be suprising. Any website that New Media, (and its pres Mike Connell), is involoved in is great. Remember the 2004 Bush site, and the current National and many state GOP sites. New Media is a pioneer. My only questions is why these other companies are involved?
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

one hot minute writes:	Friday, February, 16, 2007 4:49 PM
McCain dodges talk radio...
Matt, you wrote; **************** "This is further proof that, when it comes to "new media," McCain's team 'gets it.'" **************** You're kidding, right ? If the McCain camp "gets new media," why does he dodge and duck talk radio ?
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

Matt Lewis writes:	Friday, February, 16, 2007 5:15 PM
Talk Radio isn't new media.
Not in my book, anyway. As much as I love it, it's hard to call something that blossomed in the 80s and 90s "new."
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

one hot minute writes:	Friday, February, 16, 2007 7:12 PM
Matt, why is McCain ducking talk radio ?
Matt, I think a lot of folks consider talk radio to fall under the umbrella of "new media." It's true that Rush Limbaugh burst like a supernova in the late 80's following the end of the (Un)Fairness Doctrine, eliciting talk radio to blossom in the 90s. But CNN is many years 'older' than Limbaugh's show. Do you not consider cable news to fall under the "new media" umbrella ? Anyhow, talk radio is a "new medium" in the sense that it has finally reached the point where it is an influential tool in the political process. Everybody else who has declared for the GOP nomination has done the talk radio circuit in recent weeks---but where's John McCain ? Matt, you and I can debate what qualifies as "new media" until we turn blue in the face, but you neglected to address my question---why is John McCain dodging and ducking talk radio ?
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

SonnyJim writes:	Saturday, February, 17, 2007 11:55 PM
McCain doesn't get anything
Of couse his site is good, it's all about McCain's favorite subject. What McCain doesn't get is loyalty. He can get all the new media he wants and he can stick it where it will do him some good. McCain is dead to many of us. He can have a website that performs miracles if he wants, he will never get my vote for anything. Ever. Nothing. Ever.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

SonnyJim writes:	Sunday, February, 18, 2007 12:00 AM
Forget McCain
Forgot to mention; I take every opportunity to talk to everyone I know and meet about why they should never ever consider voting for 'Maverick' John McCain for anything. Ever. Nothing. Ever. Never. Did I mention that I will never vote for McCain for anything? Nothing. Ever.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

Please take a few seconds to sign up, then you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, create your own blog and more! If you are already registered, click here.

Townhall.com The Blogspot for Political, Conservative and Republican Blogs and Bloggers

Townhall Blog, Breaking News & Commentary from the Townhall Crew

Archives of our Conservative, Republican, Political Blogs

Comments Comments

The Latest on Town HallThe Latest on Town Hall

Blog Roll Blog Roll