CLICK AND DOUBLE CLICK: MISSOURIANS GO TO POLLS; WEB OFFERS INFORMATION

Today is presidential primary day in Missouri. If you don't know who to vote for, you can learn lots more about the candidates online. These sites are a great way to exam the issues without all the rhetoric.

You can also watch the election results online at the Secretary of State's office tonight.

www.georgewbush.com

On Bush's site, you can read the news headlines or learn more about George and Laura Bush. You can read the text or listen to his welcome to his virtual campaign headquarters on RealAudio.

You can also follow his campaign on the road, read or listen to his speeches and take a closer look at the issues.

You can also learn more about volunteering, contributing or supporting the campaign in other ways. In fact, you can make secured credit card contributions online. That's high-tech in action.

You can sign up for Bush news via e-mail or play some games in the youth section. Bush says: "Running for president is a lot like playing baseball." He gives kids a closer look at the game, the team and the fans. It's a good explanation without politics or candidates.

Missouri is part of Super Tuesday. In all, 12 states will cast ballots for president today.

www.mccain2000.com

Are you ready to vote in your primary? McCain asks. If so, the site outlines the state, date of primary or caucus, who can vote, date to declare or change party affiliation, general voter registration deadline, and who to contact for more information. This is very helpful.

If you click on a particular state, such as Missouri, it clicks you over to the McCain Interactive Web site. This site allows you to get more actively involved in McCain's run for the White House.

You can learn more about the John McCain story. Under speeches, you can read, hear or see many of his speeches. You can pursue his campaign calendar and learn more about life on the campaign trail.

You can also look at McCain on the issues. It might be helpful to print out both Bush and McCain on the issues and compare them side by side.

You can contribute online with secure credit card technology, or stop by the Campaign store for posters, buttons, baseball caps, videos, T-shirts, bumper stickers and more.

There's also a page of resources and links over to national and state Republican committee Web sites.

The Democrats are also picking delegates today. You can find out more about the two front-runners at their Web sites.

www.algore2000.com

Al Gore's main page offers a little pop-up window that makes it very easy to make a secure, online credit card contribution or to print a form to mail with a check. It will be interesting to see how much money is being donated to the campaigns online.

This site broadcasts live Webcasts along the campaign trail. You can also read the campaign news highlights. There's plenty to read, listen to or view on this Web site.

You can also catch a glimpse of his new television ad, released just four days before the Super Tuesday primaries that explains why Gore wants to be president. He calls the post "the only position in our Constitution filled by a person who has to fight for all the people."

You can learn more about the Gore Family, including a special section on Tipper Gore. There's a briefing room, town hall area and a place to access Gore's speeches. You can also learn how to get more involved nationally or in your state. You can sign up to receive campaign updates via e-mail.

There's an area just for kids on the lower right hand side of the page, filled with a few games, puzzles and a campaign quiz. There's also a special "Family Internet Resource Center" to help protect children's safety online. It also offers tips for parents and for kids.

www.billbradley.com

This is another slick Internet site. You can learn more about this Missouri native, including a look at his bio, issues and speeches. You can read up-to-date campaign news or happenings in your state.

You can look at Bradley's new national television ad, including a text file of the ad for those who really want to examine the words, not just the images.

The site makes it easy to select an issue for Bradley's stance. It also offers a side-by-side comparison of Bradley and Gore on such key issues as choice, environment, health care and gun control. You can also click off to Al Gore's record on key issues.

You can click over to Bradley's happenings in each state. You can even send a Bradley postcard reminder for Missourians to vote today. You can also click over to the Bradley store for bumper stickers, signs, buttons, pins, hats, shirts and even trading cards.

mosl.sos.state.mo.us

You can watch for Missouri election results tonight at the Secretary of State's Web site. You can get the candidate list, all results or county-by-county numbers.

It's a good site, which the newspaper uses on election night. However, it's very busy and may be hard to access tonight because of all the traffic.

And if you're completely tired of the official candidates, but you want to stand up and be heard, I've got the perfect site for you. The Cartoon Network is running Cartoon Campaign 2000. You can vote for your favorite cartoon.

www.cartoonnetwork.com

Hey, this deck might be stacked. The opening page has a big splash for Bugs Bunny that says "Vote here for Bugs." What strings did he pull for this kind of play?

You can also click on "Other Favorites" for the chance to vote on such cartoon loonies as Yosemite Sam, the Powerpuff Girls, Cow from Cow and Chicken and Johnny Bravo. You can get the full ballot if you click deeper in the site. I cast my vote for Scooby Doo. He's still my favorite after all these years, and I'm amused by his recent rebirth in popularity.

The results will be announced on March 18 on the Cartoon Network. Who says campaigning has to be dull?

See you in Cyberspace.

Joni Adams is managing editor of the Southeast Missourian newspaper.