Comically Simple Ploy Pays Big for Kansas Candidate

A cash-strapped candidate for the Kansas legislature has turned around his fortunes in the flash of a few thousand mouse-clicks: Before circulating sassy online cartoon strips, Sean Tevis had $1,525 in his campaign coffers; in less than two weeks, he’s raised nearly $100,000 more. The episode is dramatic evidence of the political power of web-based social networking, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Tevis’ geek-savvy comics—at www.seantevis.com/3000—wax on privacy rights, the superficiality of elections and his three-term opponent’s social conservatism. The insurgent Democrat offers hand-written notes for those who give $60, DVD thank-yous from his mom for $500. Still, one analyst says, “all those people supporting Sean won't be able to vote for him. He could e-mail his heart out and still get stomped." (More social networking stories.)