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There is a clear distinction between official activity and campaign activity, or at least that's the way it is supposed to be.

Electronic communications have changed the way political and official activity interact with one another and the voters. Websites are undoubtedly marketing tools for an incumbent's accomplishments or positions. Email newsletters allow incumbents to reach directly to constituents (and voters) with issue messaging.

In late 2003, the House amended its official regulations to address and define the acceptable use of email newsletters. These regulations apply permission-based marketing concepts and allow legitimate email communications to those who have solicited them.

In the Senate the rules are more restrictive, to the point of not allowing websites to be updated 60 days in advance of a primary or general election (with certain exceptions).

While cost is not a barrier to political competition as it relates to email newsletters, access to data is. To that end, incumbents have a huge advantage based on their ability to gather high quality email address data from interested constituents (or, again, voters). Rules prohibiting personal attacks and political activity still govern the content of all official communications, but the ability to reach potential voters by use of targeted email newsletters in a clear advantage of incumbency.