Sarkozy’s calling, or so Palin thought

Sarah Palin mistakenly thought she was speaking with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday when a pair of well-known Canadian comedians managed to get her on the telephone.

The prank call was made by Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel, who are known as the Masked Avengers. Audette, the Sarkozy imitator, discussed with Palin the state of her campaign and said that one day he could see her as president.

The Republican vice presidential nominee laughed and replied: “Maybe in eight years.”

There were clues that the call, which lasted several minutes, was a joke.

The fake Sarkozy spoke of his love of hunting, saying, “I just love killing those animals. Take away a life, that is so fun.”

He also told Alaska’s governor that he could see Belgium from his house, that Sarkozy’s wife -- model Carla Bruni -- was “so hot in bed” and that the French equivalent of Joe the Plumber is “Marcel, the guy with bread under his armpit.”

The phone call ended with Audette bringing up an adult film, which is being produced by Larry Flynt and reportedly features a Palin look-alike. He called it an edgy documentary.

“I really love you,” Audette concluded, before informing Palin that she had been pranked.

The GOP candidate responded graciously, and spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt said Palin took it all in stride.

“Gov. Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy, and other celebrities in being targeted by these pranksters,” Schmitt said. “C’est la vie.”

-- Seema Mehta