August 23, 2008
Posted: August 23rd, 2008 04:00 PM ET

From

(CNN) – The Obama campaign has succeeded partly through astute, unprecedented use of the Internet. But some of the most obvious Web site domain names for the Obama-Biden ticket might not actually belong to the campaign anytime soon - if ever.

After hearing about Obama's selection for his number-two slot, anyone who tried to surf to obamabiden.org was re-directed to an eBay page selling that domain name for a starting bid of $100,000.

As of 6:30 p.m. ET, there were no bids listed.

The same seller lists 15 similar domain names up for sale, including obama-biden.com, obama-biden.org, and obamabiden-08.com.

Though the seller does not list his name on the ebay site, he does list it as public information at godaddy.com, where he purchased the site. That site shows that Luke Freudenberg bought the site back in December.

Freudenberg - whose city of residence is listed at both godaddy.com and eBay.com - did not immediately respond to a message sent via ebay or phone messages left on a work number. He does not have a home number publicly listed.

Perhaps the most obvious site for an Obama-Biden ticket, obamabiden.com, is owned by someone else.

Lyle Dean bought that site back in 2006. He also owns obamabiden2008.com.

On Friday, he told CNN's Abbi Tatton in an e-mail exchange that he has had no offers, but "numerous media inquiries."

Dean called himself an "enthusiastic supporter" of the Obama-Biden ticket.

Filed under: Barack Obama • Joe Biden


Edo   August 23rd, 2008 9:07 pm ET

2losers4ever.com is still available!

Michelle   August 23rd, 2008 9:03 pm ET

Barack Obama has re-energized the political process and in my opinion, our Country is in desperate need of a President who will bring our economy into good standing, remove our troops from Iraq and re-deploy them to where the "terrorists" headquarters are, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Senator Joe Biden is a great Statesmen, man of integrity, believes in family and The American Dream.

Together, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will be our next President and Vice President.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08 CHANGE AND EXPERIENCE !

GOD BLESS AMERICA

John   August 23rd, 2008 9:00 pm ET

Uhhh... cool?

Barbara   August 23rd, 2008 8:58 pm ET

Obama/Biden '08

No matter what the talking heads say and how much they try to make us look like they know more about what we want than we do.

Lisa   August 23rd, 2008 8:51 pm ET

Who wants to waste $100,000 on a losing ticket?

Chris, American in London   August 23rd, 2008 8:50 pm ET

Obama's already got a good website. Even John Kerry has made another web page for Obama. I think he'll be alright, if he really wanted it he could afford it. These cheepo's are just hording, hoping someone will take the bait. Obama already dominates the web, John McCain can't figure out how to log on. It has too much to do with the economy, and that's just not his area of expertiece. You see, he's a P.O.W. and can learn us all how to uses our daddy's connections if we find ourselves shot down, that's where he specializes. He's got some wars lined up for us so these skills will be in demand for your future. D'ya hear the one about the "Russian Empire"? look it up on wikipedia, I think john McCain was alive back then and is like some kind of vampire that just won't die! It just keeps sucking off the tomorrows of America, first Cheney, now....

James   August 23rd, 2008 8:42 pm ET

CNN is kind of missing the point.

Links can be easily sent in email and other means, so having an easy to remember URL is no biggie.

Buying 20 URLs is pretty old school.

Most people in 2008 use Google to find a site anyway.

Raphael   August 23rd, 2008 8:34 pm ET

Dean is so enthusiastic, in fact, that he wants to make an obscene profit off of Obama/Biden's donors. This domain name scalping is rather pitiful.

EqualBranchesofGovernment   August 23rd, 2008 8:34 pm ET

Capitalism at it's best.........Start snagging up those McCainRomney08 sites.

Obama For President/Biden For Vice President   August 23rd, 2008 8:30 pm ET

Another con artist trying to make a buck. Obama is a hot commodity...many are getting rich off his name only. Maybe he should start suing folks for taking advantage.

Bertagirl   August 23rd, 2008 8:29 pm ET

who cares, they use text messaging anyway

lampe   August 23rd, 2008 8:18 pm ET

Why Not Sell It. Obama Has Sold his Soul To The Devil Already.

Joel   August 23rd, 2008 8:14 pm ET

There's some entrepreneurs.

aliou FL   August 23rd, 2008 8:12 pm ET

i HOPE OBAMA IS NOT GOING TO SUE THIS CRAZY GUY FOR THAT BRIDGE.

ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS GO WITH OBAMA.BIDEN.ORG OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

Howard in Kirkland   August 23rd, 2008 8:04 pm ET

What America needs is a good five cent nickel

AB   August 23rd, 2008 7:41 pm ET

Obama and Biden can go for obamabiden08.com/org which currently is not listed among the sites that are up for sale.

Rick   August 23rd, 2008 7:37 pm ET

This is the single greatest show of capitalism since the guy that created the things at the ends of your shoe laces.

Gerda Edwards   August 23rd, 2008 7:34 pm ET

What will irritate the Democrats more - that they didn't have the smarts to spend $20 and buy the domains months ago, or that it's good old capitalism at its finest?

Independent FL--- Troy   August 23rd, 2008 7:31 pm ET

What a moron. What, he thinks that he is going to blackmail the Obama campaign to buy the domain link?? Is he stupid? Even if Obama wanted to buy it, there is no way that the sale could happen. So what, he could go to donors to ask for money, when he is blowing money on a campaign domain name?

If he had kept it quiet, and he had quietly offered the Obama campaign all of the domain names for like $5,000, he might have a chance. But this is ridiculous.

Josh Bloom   August 23rd, 2008 7:22 pm ET

Hording domain names for websites is a violation of federal copyright statutes. Namely, the Anti-Cybersquating Act. These people could get themselves into deep legal trouble (triple damages – - attorneys' fees).

Anonymous   August 23rd, 2008 7:20 pm ET

the 10,000 makes no sense...why woud they want Obamabiden.ORG....this isnt a ORG type of web address....idiot

Draft Board Calling   August 23rd, 2008 7:13 pm ET

Ah,nothing like good old fashioned greed and Capitalism.John McCain wants to know if your kids want to sign up for induction.

Susan   August 23rd, 2008 7:09 pm ET

Whis is this news?

joe m   August 23rd, 2008 7:08 pm ET

ah capitalism.

aware   August 23rd, 2008 7:07 pm ET

It is Biden/Obama silly! Obama said so! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! :)

Never Obama!

Don't waste your vote! Vote for John McCain 08 and Hillary Clinton 2012! :)

Raymond Duke   August 23rd, 2008 7:07 pm ET

All you Obama nuts ought to get in your billfold and purses and buy that site for your Black Messiah. I know he would approve this message. He is not going to buy them when he will not even send the poor Old Granny and his Half brother if a care package. What a man : what a man.

stacy   August 23rd, 2008 7:05 pm ET

probably not worth the opening bid.

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