Barack Obama still generates more online buzz, but John McCain is gaining ground

According to the latest campaign trail gossip, we'll know Barack Obama's vice presidential pick by sunrise.

There have been whispers that Obama will reveal his choice to everyone who's signed up for text or e-mail alerts around 4 a.m. EST Friday.

Of course, VP announcement rumors have been wrong before.

Our friends over at the LATimes.com Technology blog aren't wasting their time speculating about when the announcement will be made or what its message will be.

Instead, Jim Puzzanghera has an interesting analysis of what the text message/e-mail strategy says about Obama's campaign.

Puzzanghera points out that that the tactic will make supporters feel like they're an integral part of the campaign -- and, perhaps more importantly, create a database of mobile users for future campaign communications. (In other words, if you've signed up for the VP notification service, don't be surprised to receive a text from the Obama campaign on Nov. 4 reminding you to vote. And no doubt several money appeals in the meantime.)

We've said before that Obama is technology savvy. And as Puzzanghera also points out, new data from Nielsen released today confirms that the Illinois senator has been generating more online buzz than his opponent, John McCain.

According to the date, there were 3.3 million unique visitors to BarackObama.com in July, compared with 1.6 million unique to JohnMcCain.com. But McCain picked up some ground there, gaining 353,000 unique visitors in the month, compared with 239,000 by the Obama site.

The place where McCain gained ground was website video streams. Total streams viewed on JohnMcCain.com more than doubled in July to 1.01 million.

Hmm, could those numbers have anything to do with McCain's controversial ad comparing Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears?

-- Kate Linthicum

Photos: Barack Obama holds his BlackBerry in St. Louis last month, before a conference call with supporters. Credit: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

Comments

[Alessandro Machi]

Ethically speaking, shouldn't Reid, Pelosi and Dean have sent a postcard to every democratic voter living in a caucus state reminding voters that voting would be different this time around. That the younger voters might treat the event as an episode of "Amazing Race" or "Survivor" and to be prepared for anything.

Naw, why do that when Barack Obama is the chosen one who sends tingles up Chris Matthew's leg.

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[BJ]

This just proves that Barack Obama is all talk, with no substance. From the very start everyone was saying he was just an empty suit... all these months of campaigning has not enlightened us one bit.

Obama is like a blazing comet, who fizzles out at the end.

Hillary... OR
McCain '08

[George S.]

There's no doubt Obama is more technologically aware than Mr. McCain. Obama has embraced the power of the Internet, and has taken full advantage of every modern, web-related buzz-word known to the blogosphere — Web 2.0, Ajax, viral marketing. And of course Facebook. I'd say this alone gives him a huge advantage, because while it may not win over the old-timers, it will certainly grab the attention of anyone who's doing anything substantial on the Internet.

McCain.....well, not as much. He's been struggling since the beginning to show that he's "up with the times" and hip. The problem is, those who are "in the know" aren't believing it one bit. Truth is, McCain hasn't really shown that he's acknowledged the every increasing role technology (and more specifically, the social Internet) plays today in humanity. It's undeniably a factor that will determine our future. To make up for this blatant popular deficit, it appears that McCain has embraced the "smearing" route. And now even Barack is getting in on it too, which is a real shame.

Only time will tell!

[KH]

Well this is pretty exciting... Now all we have to do next is wait for Mccain to deliver his VP announcement via Fax Machine! I hope I am the first number on the list because those things only dial one number at a time you know?

[Back From Iraq]

What if the person Obama picks to be his running mate refuses to run with him? Everybody else that Obama and his handlers hinted at have publicly cut themselves loose from Obama's sinking ship ... except John Edwards. Maybe Edwards could vie for the position of Attorney General.

Meanwhile, John McCain will have the pick of the pick from both top Republican and top Democratic names to fill the position of VP, and members of an all star executive cabinet. That’s the news we’re all waiting to hear.

[Russell4America]

Every American should be deeply concerned with the prospect of John McCain as president: McCain wants to bring back the draft; do you want your children to die for Exxon? John McCain does. John McCain will sacrifice your children so Exxon can steal oil from the Middle East. And when McCain does restore the draft, and send your children to their deaths, McCain's voting record on issues regarding our troops and veterans is abysmal -- do an internet search and read for yourself; it will make you sick. McCain''s voting record on women's issues is equally abysmal -- do an internet search and read for yourself -- this is of particular importance to Hillary supporters who are thinking of voting for McCain -- after reading his record, there will be no question that former Hillary supporters should NOT vote for McCain. Do an internet search of McCain''s voting record on any issues facing Americans today, and you will see how time and time again McCain votes for the interests of big business, big money and rich people, and time and time again McCain votes to give the finger to the rest of us who are just trying to get by in this world and make a living. McCain does not care about anyone but the rich. This is an important vote this year. Don''t vote for McCain.