Democracy Now reported this morning that the Republican lobbying firm of Barbour, Griffith, and Rogers is working for former Iraqi interim prime minister Ayad Allawi in his upcoming bid to replace current Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki. In preparation for this campaign, which is still in search of a scheduled election, the firm has purchased AllawiForIraq.com.

Al-Maliki has made strong statements in oppositions to calls from leaders in the US that he should be replaced. President Bush continues to support him, at least in public. At this point in time, there are no plans for calling a new election in Iraq.

Keep tuned for developments in this emerging and (hopefully) exciting online campaign for control over the Iraqi government. And remember, most of the voters in Iraq will struggle to see this website as long as they have little or no electricity to power their computers.

Crank-handled laptops, anyone? Anyone?