iPhone Campaign Apps Connect Voters To CandidatesiPhone Campaign Apps Connect Voters To Candidates

A new iPhone application aims to help voters keep closer tabs on the presidential election campaign.

Simply named Campaign, the software sells for 99 cents on Apple's online application download site for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Gorloch Interactive, a new media outlet based in Portland, Ore., announced the app on Thursday.

Campaign features election news feeds, daily polls, and information about each of the candidates, including their blogs. It also provides a voter registration tool. Users can respond to polls and read about other iPhone users' political views.

Marcelino Alvarez, CEO of Gorloch Interactive, said he anticipates that thousands of iPhone owners will download the application as the election season heats up. "As a company, we believe this election to be the most important of our generation, so we're doing what we can to help get people involved," he said.

The small company is developing iPhone applications that are functional and entertaining. Its six employees focus on projects that they would personally use.

"We created Campaign to find a way to keep our political minds informed about what's going on in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election," Gorloch explains on its Web site. "It's a way for others like us -- the political hobbyist, the Beltway insider, and the casual citizen -- to stay informed with news and stories from a variety of sources. We're not taking sides; we're giving you the tools to cast your vote with confidence."

Campaign is one of several, election-related applications available through Apple's download site. News outlets, the campaigns themselves and others have created similar tools, mainly featuring news feeds. Another innovative application, iCandidate 2008, allows users to compare their stances on major issues with those of the candidates. It asks users to answer 20 questions, then tells them who's their best fit for president, based on their opinions on the issues.

Users select their party affiliation for information most pertinent to them. Those who chose "undecided" receive information and views from both sides. Those who select "Democrat" will receive news that the team has deemed "liberal," and it is delivered against a blue background. Users can also pick which candidate they would like to learn more about.

The candidate pages allow users to read biographical information about the candidates, peruse their blogs, learn about running mates, and discover the candidates' positions on major issues.