Election Resources

thenation.com
This website stands out because of its excellent analysis of media coverage of the election race. New today in the Editor’s Cut section: “The Unbearable Lightness of Election 2008.” Writer Katrina Vanden Heuvel points out that in a political era jam-packed with enormous issues – a crumbling economy, two foreign occupations, a broken healthcare system – it seems both politicians and media outlets have been quick to focus on the trivial. Heuvel calls for debate on the important issues, and an end to “gotcha journalism.” She lays out seven critical questions she thinks everyone should be talking about.

cnnpolitics.com
Definitive and well-organized, CNN’s political coverage page is as aesthetically pleasing as it is useful. If you’re looking for something a little more fun and interactive, check out CNN’s League of First Time Voters page. There you can create your own profile, connect with other first-time voters to see where they stand on issues, and get resources specifically tailored to the youth vote. And while you’re there, don’t miss Daughtry’s performance of “Feels like the First Time.”

msnbc politics
MSNBC’s political site, Decision Dashboard, is similar to CNN’s. It’s clean, well-organized, and of course, features a TON of political coverage. The best part of the site is its interactive map. The map shows different MSNBC analysts’ predictions of possible scenarios but goes a step further and gives users the ability to make their own predictions. Mouseing over each state shows the most recent poll information and the state’s voting history. The map even zooms in when you mouse over those small New England states!

declareyourself.org
A non-profit, non-partisan website dedicated to registering America’s youth, Declareyourself.org features slick Flash navigation and resources about both political parties. Best of all, the site sponsors voter registration contests where you can win thousands of dollars in prizes by registering others to vote.

election2008.usc.edu
Election 2008 is an online resource for journalists looking for an expert’s opinion on political issues. The site lists the areas of expertise for a number of University of Southern California experts and their contact information. The site is managed by USC media relations.

official statements
What political resources page would be complete without a word from the politicians themselves? Here’s links to Barack Obama and John McCain’s official pages where they spell out their stance on the issues.