BOSTON (AP) – Dr. Evil, Austin Powers’ archrival, had a sidekick named “Mini-Me.” The Romney campaign has “Mini-Mitt.”

A thumb-sized Romney walks onto the home page of the presidential candidate’s Web site, pointing out helpful features before exiting, stage left.

“I hope you’ll also consider making a contribution to my campaign,” Mini-Mitt says while gesticulating with his arms and hands at the lower right-hand corner of the screen.

“With the end of the quarter June 30th, the media is going to pay close attention. A contribution today will help show the strength of my campaign and it’ll help me take my message to the American people.”

The overlay is called an “iAd,” which allows a host to superimpose a video message on a Web page, with the goal of increasing interest and user traffic.

“We are always looking for new ways to engage voters by incorporating the latest technology in our campaign and discovered the technology during that search,” said Romney spokesman Kevin Madden.

The campaign first used an “iAd” last month, when Romney was trying to enlist 24,000 new volunteers in a single day. It reappeared Wednesday amid the final throes of the second-quarter fundraising push.

On Tuesday, Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton posted a new video on her campaign Web site, spoofing “The Sopranos” finale and showing the New York senator and her husband, former President Clinton, discussing her contest to select a new theme song.

When the film ended, viewers clicked on a link and were taken to a page revealing the winning song – as well as seeking a donation.

The campaign said the Web site got more than 500,000 hits.

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On the Net:

Romney for President: http://www.mittromney.com

AP-ES-06-20-07 1539EDT