Turk -

Have you read my post on "The Factory?"

I think it sums up my agreements with your concern.

Revolution!

I don't see how McCain's site breaks the mold. It too has - large graphic to the left, action center to the right, horizontal navigation, banner featuring the candidate name and an obligatory e-mail sign-up. Is it the black and white use you like? I find McCain's site far too busy, myself. There are reasons for conventions -- how would you like to find the steering wheel in the glovebox on your new car?

Pretty much right on the money. I get calls from people that want a website that looks like Hillary's, has the functionality of Obama's, and the cost of the kid next door doing it for free.

There is a market out there for knock-off template websites that don't differentiate you from anyone else. Unfortunately, that market has been joined by the Presidential campaigns.

McCain's site is sort of the anti-template. If there was a template that contained all the same elements, but in exactly the opposite way, that would be McCain.

The big image is actually to the right. The action center is actually removed from the front page. (It sounds like you actually looked at it before the new version went live yesterday. The old site actually had the order reversed and kept the action center front and center.)

It may be the black and white that makes me like it. All the other sites are variations of the same site with the same color palette. They look like they're running for 3rd grade class president and have all been given the same pile of construction paper and markers to make their collaterals.

McCain's choice to go black and white is at least a slight variation. Don't get me wrong. This is not an endorsement of McCain. I still have my issues with McCain's site. I just believe he does currently stand out, if for no other reason than color scheme.