Obama bytes into new-media effort

Sen Barack Obama's new-media platform to reach potential voters is lining the pockets of wireless companies. According to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, the Democratic presidential candidate has easily outspent his Republican opponent, Sen John McCain (R-AZ), on wireless services. Sen Obama paid a total of $2.1 million to Verizon Communications Inc. between January 2007 and July, according to the reports, the latest of which were filed in August. During the same period, Sen McCain paid about $410,000 to units of AT&T Inc., Verizon and U.S. Cellular Corp. The disparity highlights the willingness of Obama's campaign to embrace mobile technology.