Like it or not, as long as great work is being created, someone is always there to rip it off. Just as the Obama digital campaign was awarded The Titanium Grand Prix at last week’s Cannes Lions advertising festival, a Maine Republican candidate unveils a website that is… down right comical.

The Otten exploratory campaign says it didn’t copy Obama’s logo or website, and says it was built by a local company “from scratch.” Thats not what it looks like to us.

“We built the website up from the letter ‘O’ because Les’ last name begins with the letter ‘O,’” the campaign says in a statement. “We used industry standard templates placing images on the website where people’s eyes naturally follow. The color schemes of blue, red and green are prevalent throughout political websites across the United States. The green leaf surrounding the ‘O’ represents that Les will lead the renewal of Maine as a leader in energy independence, job creation and real tax reform.”
Seriously? Right down to the starburst around the logo?

Apart from the very trendy green addition to the Otten site and logo, the set of visual elements are a near exact copy of its predecessor. Perhaps he saw this as a proven recipe for success? Unfortunately for Mr. Otten, a website alone doesn’t guarantee a win.

So what do you think? Made ‘from scratch?’
www.lesotten.com
www.barackobama.com

Sources
http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineHeadlineNews/tabid/968/ctl/ViewItem/mid/2905/ItemId/11172/Default.aspx