It used to be that a Main Street store front with big windows to display campaign signs was a prerequisite for a serious candidate. Perhaps I'm dating myself with that memory. Today, candidates need Web sites, complete with their biographies, stands on issues, their latest ads, buttons to allow for online donations and links to ask for signs or volunteer.

So with just over a month to go, Gov. Jim Douglas, Republican candidate seeking re-election, finds himself with an out-of-commission Web site because of a fire in downtown Bellows Falls. The fire Saturday night destroyed Oona's Restaurant and damaged Sovernet next door. Sovernet is the Web host for Douglas' online campaign "headquarters."

Dennise Casey, Douglas campaign manager, is thankful the campaign's e-mail has been restored, but she's getting anxious about the Web site. "It's a tool. We are without a piece of the puzzle here. We direct a lot of people to it."

Midmorning Tuesday, a check of www.jimdouglas.com offered only the hope the site would be back soon.

--Nancy Remsen