Obama's feeling lucky at Google

Ice cream in Le Mars, Iowa, eggs and crepes at Chez Vachon in Manchester, N.H. -- these were the presidential campaign traditions of yore. This cycle, the candidates have a new one: A stop at (where else?) the Mountain View, Calif. headquarters of Google.

Today it is Barack Obama's turn, and he is using his appearance there this afternoon to unveil his technology and innovation agenda. In his plan, Obama calls for net neutrality; allowing citizens to comment on legislation and government initiatives before they are finalized; enhancing the nation's broadband and wireless networks; appointing a US chief technology officer; creating new public media that will be the "Sesame Street of the digital age"; and investments in electronic medical records.

"We need to make sure that the next success story – the next Google – happens here in America," Obama said in prepared remarks. "The Google story is about what can be achieved when we cultivate new ideas and keep the playing field level for new businesses. But it's also about not settling for what we’ve achieved. It's about constantly raising the bar so that we’re more competitive, and so we use technology to reach ever-expanding horizons."

Read Obama's full plan here. As Ben Smith notes, the proposal is getting some warm reception in the blogosphere.