The Democrats' embrace of the Web may simply be due to the fact that there appear to be more viable Democratic candidates for the White House, and all of them are trying to distinguish themselves from the pack.

Some of these Web gimmicks border on the absurd. For instance, Clinton's Web site has a selection of 30 "HillaryBuddies." They are icons – ranging from "Cat Lovers for Hillary" to "International Union of Painters and Allied Trades for Hillary" – that supporters can use on their AOL Instant Messenger. Web-based tricks like these are leading to a rather unusual political smackdown: Candidates are going out of their way to declare their geek appeal.

In late February, Clinton's Web site posted a press release claiming that VoteHillary.org had logged more than 1.7 million page views over the previous few months. Those page views, combined with the fact that the campaign was launching a new marketing campaign by buying selected Google Adwords, compelled Clinton campaign operative Peter Feddo to declare that "there is no doubt that Hillary Clinton is the candidate of the Internet savvy in 2008."

Peter Feddo In The Austin Chronicle

After months of work, the momentous day for Peter Feddo and his colleagues at the "draft Hillary" movement had finally arrived: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's formation of an exploratory committee meant a presidential run was imminent.

So what now?

Draft committees are a peculiar political animal; they exist to start building excitement for a presidential candidate who hasn't even decided to run. They launch Web sites, collect names of potential supporters and raise money in anticipation of a presidential bid.

Peter Feddo In The Washington Post

VoteHillary.org, the "draft" website for Hillary Clinton, was created three years ago by Peter Feddo, a 23-year-old technology consultant in Richmond, Virginia, who says he spends more than twenty hours a week on the effort. He believes Clinton "acknowledged the grassroots call for her candidacy" by entering the race this weekend. While Feddo is generally upbeat about people getting active for any potential candidate, he did contrast Hillary's supporters with a more synthetic description of Obama's high-powered boosters. "It's certainly helped the draft Obama people to have Astroturf layers out there, but we've got the real deal," he said.

Peter Feddo In The Nation

Even at the Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner, where former President Bill Clinton made what was widely viewed as a proxy appearance for his wife, the most visible show of support for Mrs. Clinton came from Peter Feddo , a 23-year-old who runs a Hillary Rodham Clinton for President Committee from Richmond, Va. Mr. Feddo had flown into Des Moines with thousands of “Hillary for President” stickers and signs that he passed out at the door; the best news, he said, was that some guests asked for two. “So that’s a sign of momentum for Hillary,” he said. “People not only want to support her, they want to tell their friends.”

Peter Feddo In The New York Times

The event was organized by Peter Feddo, the leader of the Hillary Clinton for President Committee, an organization dedicated to supporting a Clinton presidential bid that is wholly unaffiliated with the senator

He said his goals for the first MeetUp were to "introduce guests to our movement, our goals, and get them to take action for Hillary and sign petitions to deliver to influential DNC members."

Attendees also went home with freshly made "Hillary for President" bumper stickers and signs, he said.

Peter Feddo On ABC

Today marks the first 2008 MeetUp events for the Hillary Clinton for President Committee, a organization dedicated to supporting a Clinton presidential bid that is wholly unaffiliated with the Senator.

"We've decided to focus on two cities for our pilot MeetUp event. The enthusiastic response thus far in Virginia and New York has far exceeded our expectations and we look forward to a turnout of between 30-40 in Alexandria and 25-35 in New York," says Peter Feddo, the leader of the committee.

Feddo adds, "At our first MeetUp of the 2008 campaign we will introduce guests to our movement, our goals, and get them to take action for Hillary and sign petitions to deliver to influential DNC members. In addition to taking action for Hillary at this event, supporters will engage in a dialogue about why they support Hillary Clinton for president. Our supporters will also be provided with brand new Hillary for President bumper stickers and signs for their homes."

Peter Feddo On ABC News

Sen. Clinton is getting some unsolicited help for a potential run for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Peter Feddo , a 22-year-old Virginian, has filed papers with the Federal Election Commission to register the Hillary Rodham Clinton for President Committee. Feddo told the Grind he launched the committee to help Clinton build a national grassroots network, while she focuses her attention on the 2006 Senate race.

"We need to be out there raising support for her, while she is running for re-election," said Feddo, a computer consultant. Feddo said he has not spoken to the Clinton campaign about his efforts but he added, "They know we are out here and raising her profile in a positive way."

Peter Feddo on CNN's Daily Grind

A Democratic activist in Virginia has formed a national Hillary Clinton for President campaign committee and said his dream ticket for 2008 is to have New York's junior senator paired with his own Governor Mark Warner.

Peter Feddo, a former top official with the Young Democrats of Virginia, filed papers with the Federal Election Commission that allows his independent committee to raise and spend money promoting a Clinton 2008 presidential candidacy.

Neither Clinton nor Warner has said they are running for national office, but both are considered hot prospects for 2008 by party leaders.

National polls show the former first lady, who is seeking re-election next year, far ahead of her potential 2008 rivals. Warner, who leaves office at the end of this year, is steadily improving in those polls.

So far, the Clinton camp is officially ignoring the effort.

Clinton advisor Howard Wolfson said Clinton is focused on doing the best job she can for New Yorkers in the Senate and her re-election in 2006.

Peter Feddo on Capital News 9

When senior Hitasha Singh arrived at Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall of 2001, she was surprised by the lack of political activism on campus.

“Coming from California and its very progressive environment, it was almost jarring to come to Richmond and see so little going on at VCU” politically, Singh said. “I became involved in the Student Government Association (SGA) so that I could even have a clue as to what was going on statewide, because I wasn’t going to find out otherwise.”

Three years later, Singh said, VCU has become much more politically aware.

“Everywhere you go now – and particularly this fall – you see voter registration tables, protests against university policies, announcement for candidate forums, and events such as the Kerry children coming to campus,” she said. “It’s like night and day.”

Peter Feddo on VCU Insight