U.S. Presidential Websites Attract More Visitors in Battleground States -FR, SBVT Sites in Top Ten

Tekrati.com ^ | Wednesday, September 1, 2004

[kristinn]

Hitwise, a leading online competitive intelligence service, released research today showing that the Bush and Kerry campaign web sites are important tools in reaching undecided voters in the 17 "battleground" states. The analysts report that, compared with web surfers nationwide, web surfers in these hotly contested states are up to twice as likely to visit the election site of at least one of the major party candidates.

In the battleground states of Oregon, Wisconsin and Ohio, surfers are 119 percent, 96 percent and 67 percent more likely to visit www.johnkerry.com versus the total U.S. Internet-using population. And in Arkansas, Ohio and West Virginia, surfers are 101 percent, 100 percent and 70 percent more likely to visit www.georgewbush.com.

In addition, the web sites for so-called "527 organizations" and other politically-charged partisan groups are playing a crucial role in this year's election season. Hitwise says these groups figure prominently among the top-ten political sites.

"The 2004 presidential race will certainly be remembered for Senator John Kerry and President George W. Bush’s unprecedented fight to win over a miniscule number of undecided voters in the 17 so-called battleground states," said Bill Tancer, vice-resident of research, Hitwise. "Whether driven by extravagant ad spending or a pure desire for information about the candidates, the Hitwise data show that Kerry and Bush's sites are playing a more prominent role in states that are considered up for grabs."

According to Hitwise data for the four-week period ending August 21, 2004, Web surfers in 15 of the 17 battleground states are much more likely to visit www.johnkerry.com versus all U.S. Internet users. Conversely, Web surfers in 11 of the battleground states are more likely to visit www.georgewbush.com compared to total U.S. surfers.

Highlights from Hitwise's 2004 U.S. Presidential Election Coverage Series:

Despite serious debate and frequent mud-slinging, Americans' favorite political Web site is www.jibjab.com, a spoof site which pokes at both Senator John Kerry and President George W. Bush. The site claimed seven percent of all visits in the Lifestyle - Politics category for the week ending August 28, 2004.

Web sites for so-called "527 organizations" and other politically-charged partisan groups are playing a crucial role in this year's election season. While Senator Kerry and President Bush's sites are both in the top-ten Hitwise 'Lifestyle - Politics' ranking, so are: www.freerepublic.com; www.swiftvets.com; www.townhall.com; www.scaryjohnkerry.com; and www.moveon.org.

When it comes to politics online, make way for older, male surfers. 55 percent of visits to the politics category the week ending August 21 came from a male demographic, while only 45 percent were female. The largest age segment to political sites is 55-years and older; this group disproportionately represents 28 percent of all U.S. visits to the category. Political sites with the highest percentages of visits from women are most often affiliated with the Democratic, liberal and activist groups. The top sites according to visits from females for the week ending August 21, 2004 are: www.thepetitionsite.com (72 percent); volunteer.johnkerry.com (65 percent); and www.rockthevote.com (63 percent).

While men are more likely to visit Republican and right-leaning sites, they also are more likely to visit political blogs and political news-aggregator sites. The top sites according to visits from males are: www.belmontclub.blogspot.com (87 percent); www.americanpatrol.com (80 percent); and www.nraila.org (79 percent).

About Hitwise: Hitwise is a leading online competitive intelligence service. Each day, Hitwise monitors how more than 25 million Internet users interact with over 500,000 websites across 160 industry categories.

[Quilla]

According to Hitwise data for the four-week period ending August 21, 2004, Web surfers in 15 of the 17 battleground states are much more likely to visit www.johnkerry.com versus all U.S. Internet users. Conversely, Web surfers in 11 of the battleground states are more likely to visit www.georgewbush.com compared to total U.S. surfers.

Is it me, or does this excerpt make absolutely no sense at all?

[stockpirate]

Here is aquote from Dick Morris: Dick Morris

I voted for Gore in 2000, as a true child of the Clinton era. But I decided to vote for Bush on Sept. 12, 2001 when I saw how he handled the threat we face. I used to back Bush because he offered safety; now I support him because he summons us all to an ideal. Before he spoke, supporting Bush was a duty one owed to the fallen. Now, it is an honor.

[mylife]

W00h00!

Im not so sure what all this means. Im sure I have visited Kerrys site more often than GWBs site just to see what Kerry is spewing.

[TheGeezer]

It isn't just you. 11 + 15 = 26, not 17. This doesn't make sense unless "all U.S. Internet users" is different than "total U.S. surfers". Screwy.

[Chieftain]

One of the BIG reasons that Kerry has tanked in the polls is because of the Swiftees killer ads!

You can bet the DemocRAT 'smear the Swiftees' campaign will be kicked up to a whole new level now.

Support for the Swiftees is crucial right now, so they can get these ads on the air on REGULAR TV in battleground states.

FReepers are key in getting the word out about the righteousness of the SBVFT by exposing Kerry's FRAUD.

These Swiftee window stickers get the word out to the driving public, display public support for the SBVFT, as well as displaying the website address!

Swiftee window sticker thread - get yours! Freep mail for details.

[RoseofTexas]

WOW! Gotta watch what I say on FR from now on...bummer!:[

BUT LIFE IS GOOD! :]

[Congressman Billybob]

Your problem is the misstatement in the text use of the word "conversely," which should mean by contrast. It should have said "and." The increased use of the Kerry sites AND the Bush sites occurred in the same 17 battleground states.

John / Billybob

[Netizen]

Im not so sure what all this means. Im sure I have visited Kerrys site more often than GWBs site just to see what Kerry is spewing.

I think that is the whole point. The people going to Kerry's site are trying to find out what he stands for or represents. President Bush is more straightforward. You know where he stand on Iraq, WOT, etc.

[Netizen]

It isn't just you. 11 + 15 = 26, not 17.

Conversely, Web surfers in 11 of the battleground states are more likely to visit www.georgewbush.com compared to total U.S. surfers.

I think that is 11 of the 17 battleground states -- and 15 of the 17 battleground states.

[Jeff Gordon]

Is it me

Nope. Twas nonsense.

[GoLightly]

So are they one of 'em tracking me with spyware or was it done via some kind of poll? I know I've been over at Kerry's site a whole bunch more than I've been to Bush/Cheney. My Acrobat reader locks up everytime I close a PDF file & I have to reboot & go back to dig into the next file I wanna see there.