In the past two years, the Internet has changed the way millions of Americans communicate with one another, conduct research and shop for every imaginable product.
Politicians seem to think so.
Few candidates had Web pages in 1996, but this year most do. Still, candidates' Web pages are one-sided affairs. As a result, citizen groups that believe in accountable government have also flocked to the Internet to provide specific information on candidates. Although the methods vary, the common goal of these groups is to go beyond campaign rhetoric to let voters know where candidates really stand on the issues. Vote Smart was started in 1988 by a few citizens of Tucson, Arizona, who were disenchanted with campaigns that avoided serious issues.