San Francisco - Internet giant Google is becoming a prime stop on the 2008 presidential campaign as candidates seek to burnish themselves with net-wise credentials while fielding questions from some of the tech industry's most influential workers.
Five White House hopefuls from both Republican and Democratic parties have stopped by Google's Silicon Valley campus in recent months to face questions and endear themselves with voters in the country's most populous state.
The town hall-style forums, held in the Googleplex auditorium, most recently put Texas Republican Ron Paul in the hot seat where he was asked about tech policy, immigration, and even the federal student loan program. Paul called the internet, where Google dominates the search and advertising business, "rather miraculous".
As a company Google has become more active politically and has invited all presidential candidates to swing through Mountain View south of San Francisco for what chief executive Eric Schmidt has called "a job interview with the American people".
The visits are webcast on Google-owned YouTube, complete and unedited, viewable to millions of potential voters.
Hip factor
"We have invited prominent speakers to the campus for years," Adam Kovacevich, Google's Washington spokesperson told AFP. "This was just a natural extension."
But the stop in Silicon Valley is new on the campaign path, whose familiar landmarks in the past have been Iowa pancake breakfasts and southern barbeques.
Stumping candidates are eager to cash in on Google's hip factor and show voters that they understand the power of the internet and can communicate in a Web 2.0 world.
Google staff may come in shorts and flip-flops for the political appearances, but their casual workplace culture does not preclude pointed questions. Few other Silicon Valley workers have the perk of grilling politicians on the campaign trail.
In May, John McCain suffered through queries on his stance on homosexuals in the military. John Edwards stumbled through questions on e-commerce with China. Ron Paul's dismissal of global warming was followed by silence.
The politicians have also offered flattery to the assemblies. Hillary Clinton during her visit to the Googleplex in February called the company "the best place to work in America". McCain called them "the future of this nation".
Google ups level of political involvement
Last month Google raised its level of political involvement when it launched a blog dedicated to the company's views on government, policy, and politics.
"Google has found an increased number of policy issues that affect our users, and we have no choice but to be part of those debates," said Kovacevich.
"We aim to do policy advocacy with complete transparency, and not a lot of other companies are doing that."
A key issue for Google is "net neutrality", the concept that broadband internet providers should not be allowed to control activity online by determining the content that users receive first and fastest.
This past fall the company formed Google NetPac, a lobbying group dedicated to "an open and free internet" with a broad mandate to support candidates aligned with its stance.
Keeping America competitive
Google, which employs 12 000 people worldwide, has also taken an immigration position that calls for allowing more skilled foreign workers into the country.
"We are committed to keeping America competitive," said Kovacevich.
Last weekend, Schmidt made an appearance at the annual national governor's conference in Michigan where he advocated that educators train students how to research and access information online.
He also called for increased partnership with state governments to improve citizen accessibility to state information.
Currently no additional candidates are scheduled for a Google visit, said Kovacevich. "But Googlers are very interested in hearing from the candidates, and we are flattered that so many have visited."
- AFP