Elizabeth Holmes

As the recession deepens, a small but growing number of people are taking their skills online, doling out expertise or performing specified tasks for a fee. Labor-at-the-keyboard sites are gaining popularity as people increasingly turn to the Web in search of work.

Technology policy has not been a front-burner issue for either Sen John McCain (R-AZ) or his Sen Barack Obama (D-IL). However, it has become more critical for the McCain campaign in recent weeks, as perceptions grow that Sen McCain is less than tech-savvy.