The Tangled Web of Failed Presidential Candidates

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Websites have been an integral way for presidential candidates to raise money and get their word out. Thirteen candidates have dropped out since the '08 race for president began. The power of the web has changed the election game altogether and has also brought up some new issues, like once they’re officially out of the running are there ethical obligations that politicians should undertake online? Should they, like blogs, update their sites with a final farewell or just shutter them forever? They certainly shouldn’t be accepting donations—unless they’re trying to pay off campaign debt and those terms are clearly spelled out.

Apparently Rudy Giuliani and John Edwards don't think so. Out of all the failed candidates, those two are still accepting donations for their run for president—technically Dodd and Richardson are taking donations, but to pay off bills. Rudy took us for a buck, Edwards demanded five. How do they get away with this? You might think only a moron would be clueless enough to contribute to a busted campaign, but like that Nigerian banker, Rudy's trying.

And now, with the Pennsylvania primaries taking place this Tuesday, April 22nd what will happen to that defeated candidate’s website? So, ANIMAL took a look at the two main campaign abusers as well as the other candidates to examine the trends for online electoral vanquishment.