After months of work, the momentous day for Peter Feddo and his colleagues at the "draft Hillary" movement had finally arrived: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's formation of an exploratory committee meant a presidential run was imminent.

So what now?

Draft committees are a peculiar political animal; they exist to start building excitement for a presidential candidate who hasn't even decided to run. They launch Web sites, collect names of potential supporters and raise money in anticipation of a presidential bid.

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The Internet buzz on Hagel is similar to that on other lesser-known possible candidates. But it's dwarfed by the online chatter about perceived Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. One independent Internet site launched months ago on behalf of the New York senator has drawn more than 1 million visits.

Jeff Gulko, a former aide to New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, runs a Web site promoting Richardson as a Democratic prospect. It has attracted more than 5,000 new visitors in two months. And a blog promoting Republican Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is drawing 1,000 visits a day, its backer said.

The Internet invaded presidential politicking in a major way in 2004, when an obscure governor from Vermont, Howard Dean, used it to connect supporters with one another and to raise millions of dollars. That ignited his campaign and drew national attention.

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"You cannot blame the entire Republican party for this reason. The entire government of the United States, the Congress, the White House and increasingly the courts for the last six years has been in the total control not of the Republican party but of the most ideological, the most right wing, the most extreme sliver of the Republican Party."

Clinton did not talk about his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's potential White House bid, but 'Clinton for President -- votehillary.org" placards were on display in the streets surrounding the banquet hall and volunteers handed out blue stickers bearing the name "Hillary."

"I've always liked her and admired her," said Marilyn Chido, a longtime party activist from Des Moines who put her "Hillary" sticker on her purse. "I think she'd be a great president."

Sen. Hillary Clinton was hundreds of miles away from Iowa yesterday, but her presence was acutely felt here as former President Bill Clinton spoke at the annual marquee event for Democrats in the state.
It was a feeling sensed by many, and signaled for anyone who didn't get it by hundreds of "Clinton for President" signs stapled to poles outside Hy-Vee Hall and similar stickers worn on lapels at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner.

The chow-down is a major fund-raiser for the Iowa Democratic Party, and always highlights state hopefuls. But throw the ex-President into the state that chooses first in presidential contests, and talk turns easily to the chances his wife could become the next commander in chief.

"This is about Bill, but it sure greases the skids for her," said Monica McCarthy, chairwoman of the Union County Democratic Party.

Even though Mrs. Clinton was not in Iowa, an independent organization supporting her likely 2008 campaign had a large presence at the dinner.

"The response has been overwhelming," said Peter Feddo, of VoteHillary.org, based in Chester, Va.

Mr. Feddo said Mrs. Clinton is focused on her Senate re-election, but that Mr. Clinton's speech was "very symbolic" of themes that Mrs. Clinton would tout as a presidential candidate.

"It was the same kind of issues, including working with Republicans," Mr. Feddo said.

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President Clinton is the star attraction at Iowa’s most significant political event of the year, the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. On Saturday Oct. 14th we need your help at the Iowa JJ Dinner. Volunteers are needed to distribute Clinton 2008 brochures, stickers, and sign up supporters. Are you near Des Moines? Are you free from 2-8 PM this Saturday? Fill out our online volunteer registration form and we’ll figure out the best way you can help build momentum for Clinton 2008!

Register Online Now

At 6.30 on a beautiful spring evening, 12 people have gathered at the Knickerbocker restaurant in Greenwich Village. On the table, between the white wine and the finger food, are blue bumper stickers which say: "Hillary for President." These people have organised themselves, via the internet, so that they will be ready when she announces her candidacy.

The "New York for Hillary" group met for the first time last month with just four people. This month there are 12, and it expects to grow. The group was started by Alfred Schreiber and his wife, Suri Harris. Some of the people who have come are friends, others just saw it on the net. Some are newly signed Democrats.

Faye says that she is an independent and that she hasn't made up her mind yet, but she is "very interested" in Hillary Clinton. They all think that the country is off track, and want to get rid of George Bush.

...Not surprisingly, one of the politicians attracting the most draft interest is also the one who is best-known, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Peter Feddo, a young Democratic activist in Virginia, runs VoteHillary.org, a Web site he put up to tout a 2008 Clinton run. "She is the only one who can lead the Democratic Party in the right direction," he said.

He has registered the group as a political committee, raised a few thousand dollars and collected thousands of names.

Now, he said, "We want to go from the net roots to the grass roots."

On a Tuesday evening earlier this month, about 30 Clinton supporters gathered at an Alexandria pizza shop to discuss how to publicize a Clinton candidacy. The event was organized through the popular activist tool, Meetup.com.