Parsley Campaign Already Scaring Opponents

[I think I've made this clear, but I'll play full disclosure again: I'm an avid supporter of Scott Parsley's campaign for the District 8 Senate Seat. Scott might even let me help with his campaign!]

Badlands Blue makes a rare foray into state politics with a note about Scott Parsley's State Senate campaign and the first apparent sign of opposition tactics. Badlands Blue connects the same dots some of us Madison folks were scratching our heads over: On March 5, the day after the local Republican caucus, Ross VanEck registered the domain name scottparsley.com.

Badlands Blue wonders, as might we neighbors, why a computer guy associated with CommissionSoup, an organization with various connections to the Republican Party, would be parking a prominent Democrat's domain name. Just being neighborly? Funny -- Ross hasn't been to any of the recent Lake County Dems meetings, and I don't think he was at the organizational meeting for Parsley volunteers last Sunday, even though his WHOIS record says he lives at 123 S. Chicago, just a couple-three blocks from Scott.

Maybe VanEck just saw an opportunity: he sensed potential demand and, as a good free-marketeer, took action to secure and satisfy that demand when the time came.

Or maybe the friends of one-term District 8 Representative Russell Olson felt a little nervous about facing Parsley, a well-known and well-liked candidate with lots of experience in energy and economic development and thought that buying a domain name -- one domain name -- might tilt the political calculus back in their favor.

Tee hee.

Not that this story matters much. The Internet is a big place, and there are lots of domain names. We look forward to Badlands Blue's coming coverage of Scott's positions on education, renewable energy, health care, and open government. Come November, voters won't be thinking about how darn hard it was to type in Scott's or Russell's domain name; they'll be thinking about the issues... and they'll be voting Democrat.