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I want some of what she is smoking, but i guess everyone is entitled..
Sue Cohn is selling off the timely domain name election2004.com.
"This proves you can buy an election," said Cohn, who runs Word of Mouth Advertising. "This is the absolute best and most generic name for an election Web site."
Late husband's idea
Cohn's late husband registered the name in 1997 with an eye to the future presidential race. He had hoped to get election2000.com, but was beaten to the punch. She is hoping that a network news channel, political party or organization sees the practicality of such a catchy, memorable Web name and makes an offer.
"Given the closeness of the 2000 election and even closer predictions expected this year, the TV networks especially want their share of the rapidly growing Internet audience not clicking over to their competitors' Web sites," Cohn said. "For complete election coverage, results, projections or opinions . . . election2004.com is an ideal, easy-to-remember Internet portal for TV viewers to quickly get online."
Unfortunately, it may not be that easy to get the big bucks for the site -- that is, if history has anything to say about it. Earlier this year, an Indianapolis man named Kerry Edwards tried to cash in on his Web site, kerryedwards.com, by auctioning it off.
He'd hoped to raise about $150,000 in the sale -- it didn't happen.
"Obviously, kerryedwards.com would be a great Web site," Mike Harmless, the Indiana chairman for the Kerry campaign told the Indianapolis Star. "But with the amount of effort, enthusiasm and excitement that has built around JohnKerry.com, I don't think anyone would want to switch with just a few months to go until the election."
Price may be too high
A domain name expert said Cohn may also have a tough sale. Many news outlets already have their Internet sites up and running and may be reluctant to make a switch, especially this close to Nov. 2.
"People tend to be a lot more optimistic about the amount people are willing to pay for these things," said Matthew Zook, an assistant professor specializing in economic geography and Internet commerce at the University of Kentucky. "The right combination may have people spending hundreds or thousands for a specific need, but something as generic as election2004.com, there might be some value, but $500,000 is really, really high."
Cohn, though, remains optimistic that she will get that price if not more. She said that many people -- including both parties and political organizations -- already have contacted her about buying the name.
And it doesn't matter whether the buyer is Republican or Democrat. -- it's the highest bid that counts. Right now," she said, "money is talking."
www.suntimes.com"This proves you can buy an election," said Cohn, who runs Word of Mouth Advertising. "This is the absolute best and most generic name for an election Web site."
Late husband's idea
Cohn's late husband registered the name in 1997 with an eye to the future presidential race. He had hoped to get election2000.com, but was beaten to the punch. She is hoping that a network news channel, political party or organization sees the practicality of such a catchy, memorable Web name and makes an offer.
"Given the closeness of the 2000 election and even closer predictions expected this year, the TV networks especially want their share of the rapidly growing Internet audience not clicking over to their competitors' Web sites," Cohn said. "For complete election coverage, results, projections or opinions . . . election2004.com is an ideal, easy-to-remember Internet portal for TV viewers to quickly get online."
Unfortunately, it may not be that easy to get the big bucks for the site -- that is, if history has anything to say about it. Earlier this year, an Indianapolis man named Kerry Edwards tried to cash in on his Web site, kerryedwards.com, by auctioning it off.
He'd hoped to raise about $150,000 in the sale -- it didn't happen.
"Obviously, kerryedwards.com would be a great Web site," Mike Harmless, the Indiana chairman for the Kerry campaign told the Indianapolis Star. "But with the amount of effort, enthusiasm and excitement that has built around JohnKerry.com, I don't think anyone would want to switch with just a few months to go until the election."
Price may be too high
A domain name expert said Cohn may also have a tough sale. Many news outlets already have their Internet sites up and running and may be reluctant to make a switch, especially this close to Nov. 2.
"People tend to be a lot more optimistic about the amount people are willing to pay for these things," said Matthew Zook, an assistant professor specializing in economic geography and Internet commerce at the University of Kentucky. "The right combination may have people spending hundreds or thousands for a specific need, but something as generic as election2004.com, there might be some value, but $500,000 is really, really high."
Cohn, though, remains optimistic that she will get that price if not more. She said that many people -- including both parties and political organizations -- already have contacted her about buying the name.
And it doesn't matter whether the buyer is Republican or Democrat. -- it's the highest bid that counts. Right now," she said, "money is talking."
