McCain shows funny side on SNL
2008-11-02 22:12
New York - Republican John McCain showed his funny side with an appearance on a US television comedy show on Saturday, less than three days from the historic presidential election.
McCain, who had spent a gruelling day on the campaign trail in Virginia and Pennsylvania, introduced NBC's Saturday Night Live in a sketch alongside comedienne Tina Fey, once again impersonating running mate Sarah Palin.
Airtime on 'shopping channel'
McCain appeared as the presenter of QVC television shopping channel, saying it was the only station on which he could afford airtime, in contrast to rival Barack Obama's multi-million dollar "informercial" which aired this week.
"The final days are the most essential," McCain said of the election campaign.
"This past Wednesday Barack Obama purchased airtime on three major networks. We however can only afford QVC," he said.
"Tonight we come before you to give you some final remarks on our campaign."
'McCain Fine Gold'
McCain attempted selling a set of plates to commemorate his sequence of 10 town-hall rallies he had sought to hold with Obama.
"They're blank," McCain said. "He wouldn't agree to those debates. They're still nice plates."
McCain's skit also featured a cameo from wife Cindy - playing a jewellery saleswoman - for a line of "McCain Fine Gold", a reference to the Arizona senator's 2002 campaign reform legislation passed with Russell Feingold.
"It commemorates the McCain Feingold Act and also looks great with evening wear," McCain said.
"Thank you Cindy."
McCain's performance came two weeks after running mate Palin appeared in a bizarre skit alongside her comic double Fey.
The long-running Saturday Night Live is a US television institution and has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity during the election campaign, largely due to funny woman Tina Fey's pitch-perfect impersonations of Palin.
- SAPA