As already widely noted, Google has changed their PageRank algorithm to counteract the practice of coordinated link bombing. This should effectively put an end to attempts, such as those organized at MyDD, to elevate the the ranking of news stories that cover controversies surrounding Republican opponents.No tears shed here. Gaming search results for tiny tactical advantages in the midst of large-scale political races is not my thing.

But political candidates, campaign staff, and political bloggers alike should not lose sight of the real and ongoing battlefield of legitimate search engine optimization, especially in local and regional races. After all, a blog typically covers recurring themes and topics. In that respect, every blog is its own link bomb.

In the extended entry, I'll show some examples from my own experience as a local/regional blogger in Suburban Philadelphia (Delaware County) and my blog, Daddy Democrat, from which this is an adapted/x-posted entry.