Republicans, Democrats Square Off In Cyberspace

By Greg Lefevre/CNN

CHICAGO (Aug. 28) -- It's war in cyberspace with the Democrats and Republicans staking claims on the World Wide Web.

The Democrats soapbox site on the Internet is busy with comments and questions lined up nearly all day. Convention chief executive Debra DeLee is asked if former President Jimmy Carter will speak to the convention. No. He's not even here.

Another query: how's the media treating you? Very well, she says.

The Republicans rushed their Internet operation from San Diego to Chicago. Said Republican National Chairman Haley Barbour, "We take the Web very seriously." They mount a daily electronic truth squad to fight what they call the "Chicago Bull."

Says Barbour: "If it's an issue-oriented campaign, Dole goes up; Clinton goes back to Arkansas."

Both parties use advanced software called "ichat" that connects and funnels thousands of Internet chatters all at once.

"It's pretty compelling, I think, in the political arena because it really does allow you to take away all of the barriers to communicating with your congressperson or president," says Andrew Busey of i-chat, inc.

The Democrats' rush to the center of the political spectrum has the party liberals scrambling for Web space.

"In the future what we'll find is that the step removed from the party, from the controlled message environment is actually a more interesting presence on the Internet," says David Lytel of Democrats Online. "It could be that that's the sort of give and take that is necessary to keep a site lively and animated."

Lytel's site features a Bob Dole White House slot machine. "We call the list the 'Fifty Most Frightening Republicans.' Drop into boxes labeled Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and Chief of Staff and you get a chance to look at the names of people who you would not want to hold those positions of responsibility," says Lytel.

Both sides claim they are ahead this week with very heavy Internet traffic.

Republicans, Democrats Square Off In Cyberspace

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