Candidates increasingly plug websites during debate

Republican and Democratic presidential candidates are increasingly plugging their campaign websites on the debate stage to encourage viewers to donate or learn more about them. Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX) was the first GOP candidate to direct viewers to his website on Oct 28 to learn more about his new flat tax proposal. Sen Cruz’s “dot org” website has been the subject of headlines before, after he failed to secure the coveted top-level “dot com” domain name, which currently houses a message about support for President Barack Obama and immigration reform. Former Florida Gov Jeb Bush similarly pushed people to his website during an answer about his vision for the future.

On the democratic side, coming off a hot performance in the CNN debate, Sen Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced he had raised more than $1 million in the four hours after the debate. That could have been helped along by a direct solicitation during the debate. Sen Sanders decried the influx of money from super-PACs before adding that "if people want to help us out, BernieSanders.com. We are averaging $30 bucks apiece. We would appreciate your help.” At another point he directed people to his website to fact check his stance leading up to the Iraq war in 2002.