Old Campaign Websites

Rick Perry for Lieutenant Governor of Texas: 1998

They have experience. They have long records of service. The GOP's current, former and potential presidential contenders also used to have rudimentary campaign websites that made full use of GIFs, hit counters, and forms to convince voters that they could be trusted with money and votes. The following slides reveal the way these candidates used to campaign via the Wayback Machine website. The site pictured here is from one of many successful Rick Perry campaigns. The Notes & Quotes form a sort of proto-blog.
Mitt Romney for Governor of Massachusetts: 2002

From his only successful campaign to date, this site offers lots of good details about Romney's ideal health care plan.
Michele Bachmann for State Senate: 2002

During this campaign, redistricting left Bachmann's district more conservative. This may have been why she was comfortable posting this reading list.
Ron Paul for Congressman from Texas: 2002

Paul got 68 percent of the vote during this campaign, one of his best-ever winning percentages, but with a far, far less prominent national following than he enjoys now.
Tim Pawlenty for Governor of Minnesota: 2002

In a come-from-behind campaign, Pawlenty went on to win 44 percent of the vote in a three-way race, against candidates with far less hair.
Thaddeus McCotter for Congressman from Michigan: 2004

This site is from McCotter's 2004 re-election bid, when he won 57 percent of the vote. We have proof that he almost never photographs well.
Rick Santorum for Senator from Pennsylvania: 2000
In this campaign, Santorum used his conservative cred to vastly outspend the Democratic candidate; he used his moderate accomplishments to win narrowly as George W. Bush was losing the state.
Sarah Palin for Governor of Alaska: 2006
Palin's gubernatorial campaign capitalized well on her rising star: Notice the better-than-average photos of her in action.
Joe Biden for Senator of Delaware: 2002

The future vice president easily won re-election to what would be his last full term. The animated, flying flags seen here couldn't have hurt.