McCain's Secret Weapon: Giggles

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 | 12:51 AM

By Sarah Scully
Perhaps John McCain is benefitting from the protracted Democratic battle but he is also suffering from neglect in the short term. The media's obsessive coverage of every nod and head scratch by Clinton and Obama has left the most press-friendly candidate of all out in the cold. There is however one unlikely venue that has hosted the Arizona senator more than a dozen times, The Daily Show. Though Jon Stewart disagrees with many of McCain's positions, he seems absolutely enchanted by his sardonic, easygoing way, as does the audience. McCain gets big laughs and is able to articulate his platform at the same time. The "Likeability Factor" cannot be taken too lightly in presidential elections. Obama and Clinton would be wise to take a lesson from the salty old charmer. They will have to do more than awkwardly read Top Ten Lists or say 'Live from New York!" if they're going to keep up. Late-night comics may just be one of the secret weapons in McCain's arsenal for the fall. He did announce his candidacy on Letterman after all.