California gubernatorial recall candidate Web site - Clicks & Picks

How do you get yourself noticed in a field of more than 100 candidates? That's the quandary in which many candidates in California's upcoming gubernatorial recall election find themselves. A handful have been mentioned as plausible winners in the state's first-ever gubernatorial recall contest. Their Web sites are displayed below and on the following pages.

They're worth studying, because the Internet could play an important role in reaching California's 34 million people. Few of the candidates jostling for space have the resources needed to mount a real campaign, and that's why the role of the Internet is so interesting. Twenty years ago, also-rans like Georgy Russell might not have bothered filing unless they wanted to spend a few hundred dollars on signs. They had no way of reaching the whole state. But buying a Web domain and setting up a site can cost less than $50, and anyone in California--or the world--can see proof that you're running for office.

www.joinarnold.com The campaign of Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) had a site up within 48 hours of their candidate's surprise announcement, on schwarzenneger.com and joinarnold.com, the latter domain left over from his Proposition 49 campaign. It's designed by the Cimarron Group, the team behind Schwarzenegger's entertainment site as well as MichaelDouglas.com and RayRomano.com. The result is indistinguishable from the typical high-end campaign site. Provisions to make online donations were set up immediately.

www.noonrecallyesonbustamante.com The recall's longest URL is home to a smart site that repeats its message on every page--just in case the recall succeeds, vote for the Democrat, Lt. Gov Cruz Bustamante. His smiling face is given prime real estate, as is a flashing "Help Cruz" button that allows visitors to contribute time or money to the campaign. In addition, pages on Bustamante's biography and "accomplishments" are thoughtfully fleshed out, answering the worries of Democrats struggling to boost their man's image.

www.graydavis.com Gov. Gray Davis (D) is in the eye of a hurricane, and in many ways has reacted the same way as President Clinton did during impeachment--making it look he is rising above the fray and focusing on official duties. To emphasize this point Davis' Web site has at various times included a cover picture of him with the former Democratic president. Otherwise the 2002 campaign page has been left intact. A contributions section is the only page that's no longer functional. For a candidate who once attracted donations like a magnet attracts iron, that's a little strange, and it's hard to see how it will help him if Davis decides to go on the offensive against the recall.

www.peterforgovernor.com In case there's any doubt that Peter Ueberroth (I) is "that Olympics guy," his site should make it clear. The former Major League Baseball commissioner's logo makes use of an Olympic torch, and the biography page features the 1984 TIME magazine Man of the Year special dedicated to his "spectacular success" heading the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It's a good use of the campaign's strengths, coupled with an efficient online donation page.

www.ariannaforgov.com Political activist Arianna Huffington's (I) site is is as swanky as her image. To allay fears that Huffington might be a spoiler, the extensive FAQ answers questions about the Green Part); the recall process, and how she could win: "With so few progressives of any note on the ballot, we can afford to vote for a candidate we really believe in." And there's plenty of ammo prepared for doubters ("They Said WHAT? Talking Back to News and Rumors"). In other words, it's the kind of Web site you'd expect from a columnist who wants your vote.

www.tommclintock.com State Sen. Tom McClintock (R) is a GOP establishment candidate, and his site was designed by WevTec, authors of the California Republican Party home page. The result is smooth and serious, until the viewer reaches the scroll beneath the header Busy Flash animations run every time the page is loaded, and they detract from the calm grays and reds of the page.

But there's no lack of substance. Pull-down menus link to "Tom's plan" (a way to differentiate from him from frontrunner Schwarzenegger) and a donation page, and a button at the bottom links to McClintock's Senate office. He would have done well to copy that page's masthead; a quote from 2000 that suggests McClintock could see the budget crisis coming and knew how to stop it.

www.votecamejo.org Peter Camejo, a Green candidate, has maintained the smooth green and white site he built for his 2002 run when he gathered 5 percent of the vote, impressive for a third party candidate. In fact, most of his issue pages are unchanged from last year (note the references to "Davis and Simon"). But the advantages of laziness are many; the contribution box is still functional, and the easily updated home page makes room for whatever Camejo wants to say or what his campaign status is.

www.eastbayexpress.com/recall/index.html The quioxitic campaign of former child star Gary Coleman (I) has become a beacon for reporters on the "recall circus" beat. Unusual candidates are nothing new, of course--there was a time when "Al Sharpton for president" would have been the plot of a sci-fi story But Coleman's campaign is the brainchild of the East Bay Express, and the newspaper's info page includes a comprehensive record of the life and achievements of candidate Coleman. There won't be an "official" site--the actor has endorsed Arnold Schwarzenegger.

www.georgyforgov.com Georgy Russell's (D) campaign consists of a gag; she sells official thongs. She caught the attention of enough reporters to direct attention to a professional-looking site, which could double as the home of any Senate or House candidate. A Fat "donate" button sits on the front page, making up for the very slim files on the issues.

www.no-recall.com Anti-recall groups had a shoddy Web presence during the signature-gathering phase, but Californians Against the Costly Recall's new umbrella site gets the big stuff right.

The home page has blurb style talking points, including text emphasizing Davis's accomplishments. All e-mail sign-up box, veri-sign donation page and MeetUp.com site link are all provided to involve Web surfers in the campaign immediately. One gimmick is specially designed for lingering: If you punch in a comment about the recall campaign, it appears on the home page as part of "what Californians are saying."

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