As the Republicans and Democrats duke it out to try and win the hearts and minds of voters before the November election, they at least agree on one thing: The high-tech industry is important -- really important.
Not to be outdone by the Republicans, which had the first-ever broadband convention last month, the Democrats on Monday have harnessed tech tools such as streaming video, Internet chats, and a string of wireless applications for their party's Los Angeles soiree.
The Republican National Convention this week stood as a proving ground of sorts for technology and the Internet, which have moved from being a novelty in the 1996 race to becoming a critical tool in the 2000 elections.