SpeakOut.com Announces the Real "VeepStakes!"

SpeakOut.com today announced the online "Speakout.com Veepstakes," a nationwide political guessing game that will allow armchair pundits to compete in the biggest election story prior to the national conventions next August. Those entrants who correctly predict the running mates for George W. Bush, Al Gore and the Reform presidential nominee will be placed in a random drawing for three grand prizes of $5,000.

Contest participants who want to predict the national tickets can log on to www.veepstakes.com or www.speakout.com/veepstakes any time between now and July 4, 2000 (or when a nominee is named) to cast votes for prospective vice presidential nominees for the fall elections.

The SpeakOut.com Veepstakes will ask contest participants whom they predict will be chosen as vice presidential running mates for the Democratic, Republican and Reform parties. In addition, since running mates are often selected for political or strategic reasons, the SpeakOut.com Veepstakes also asks participants to name the best candidate out there, in their opinion, regardless of political expediency. SpeakOut.com will regularly report on both whom the people think will be selected, and whom the people want to be selected. Candidates are allotted one entry each but can change their votes as many times as they want up until the cutoff date.

"The Veepstakes contest is a fun way to get the American public involved in the political process, which is the fundamental mission of SpeakOut," said Ron Howard, chairman and CEO of SpeakOut.com. "Our goal is to encourage civic participation by allowing participants to adjust their entries as they learn and read more about the prospective candidates for the vice presidential race."

SpeakOut last week also unveiled the Interactive Democratic Platform, a comprehensive online tool that allows citizens of all political stripes to refine their views on the issues, create their own party platform, and submit commentary to the Democratic party for the creation of the 2000 platform. PoliticsOnline.com recently hailed the Interactive Platform as a "Hotsite" and stated, "The Interactive Democratic Platform emphasizes the Internet's value as a political communications tool. The online platform provides web surfers with an easily accessible format to "throw in their two cents worth" of opinion and tell the DNC how to construct the party's core message. Political parties and campaigns on all levels can encourage participation in party-building and online campaigning through interactive tools such as the Interactive Platform."

SpeakOut.com offers a wide variety of original news content and information tailored to the unique needs of each user as well as activism tools allowing aggregated messaging to a vast array of public officials. The Veepstakes contest and the Interactive Platform are additional SpeakOut tools created to increase the voice of the American people in the political process.

About SpeakOut.com:

Based in Washington, D.C., SpeakOut.com is a non-partisan, venture-funded political activism portal whose primary mission is to enhance the democratic process by forming a strong link between the people and their elected officials. More information about SpeakOut.com's mission, management and advisors can be found at www.SpeakOut.com.

Contacts

Ellen Ochs
EllenO@speakoutfoundation.com
SpeakOut.com
202-777-3130