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McCain's Web Connection Slow to Load

Obama's 'stunning' online operation illustrates digital divide

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 16, 2008 11:16 AM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama, 46, is a known BlackBerry addict; John McCain, 71, has admitted he's a computer "illiterate." Needless to say, there’s a gulf between their online campaign operations. “It’s the difference between a horse and buggy and a NASA space ship,” one analyst tells Politico. Whereas Obama’s site embraces a Web 2.0 approach, McCain “is still a command-and-control, top-down candidate.”

Obama is winning key online popularity contests—he crushes McCain in Facebook support, and his YouTube search results are much kinder. But McCain has gone out of his way to talk to bloggers, and to urge supporters to comment on blogs across the spectrum. “I think we have a strong online operation,” a McCain exec says. “It was good enough in the primaries.”

There is a gap between people who are digital natives and ... digital immigrants, one analyst says. Obama clearly has an advantage over McCain in that he is a more comfortable user of these tools.
"There is a gap between people who are digital natives and ... digital immigrants," one analyst says. "Obama clearly has an advantage over McCain in that he is a more comfortable user of these tools."   (AP Photo)
This undated handout photo provided by CafePress shows a campaign button for Barack Obama, available on the online print-on-demand retailer.
This undated handout photo provided by CafePress shows a campaign button for Barack Obama, available on the online print-on-demand retailer.   (AP Photo/CafePress)
An array of condoms featuring images of John McCain and Barack Obama are displayed on the desk of entrepreneur Ben Sherman Thursday, June 12, 2008 in New York.
An array of condoms featuring images of John McCain and Barack Obama are displayed on the desk of entrepreneur Ben Sherman Thursday, June 12, 2008 in New York.   (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., listens during the Apostolic Church of God service in Chicago, Sunday, June 15, 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., listens during the Apostolic Church of God service in Chicago, Sunday, June 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Obama has given people the tools to create and run their own campaigns, one media analyst says. McCain is still a command-and-control, top-down candidate. Part of it is the difference in age.
"Obama has given people the tools to create and run their own campaigns," one media analyst says. "McCain is still a command-and-control, top-down candidate. Part of it is the difference in age."   (AP Photo)
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