Late-night comedy is election winner

As Election Day looms, late-night comedy shows are wrapping up their campaign coverage in high style. Though Republican candidate John McCain's turn last weekend on NBC's Saturday Night Live doesn't look to surpass running mate Sarah Palin's 15 million audience two weeks ago, it's the second-highest-rated episode in 11 years in preliminary Nielsen figures. (Final numbers are due Thursday.) But McCain, unlike Palin, was fully involved in the comedy. He hawked QVC souvenirs alongside Tina Fey's Palin in the opening sketch, including commemorative plates and knives, "Joe" action figures and "fine-gold" jewelry with the help of wife Cindy. And in the Weekend Update segment, he floated potential last-minute strategies such as the "double maverick, where I'd go totally berserk and freak everybody out, even the regular mavericks." "For the last eight months everyone's been completely — I won't say obsessed — but fascinated by (the election). Every little turn is reported," says SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels. "We just caught the break that the country has been this focused. We were in perfect harmony with the audience. Interest has never waned."