Pop culture candidates
John McCain
Campaign soundtrack: “Gonna Fly Now (Theme From ‘Rocky’)”, ABBA’s “Take a Chance on Me” and “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry
Celebrity entourage: Wilford Brimley, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Favorite TV show: “Prison Break”
On the iPod: “I have an iPod with Beach Boys, Roy Orbison I have a varied taste in music between very good music and not-so-good music, but most of my advancement in music appreciation stopped the day I was shot down in October of 1967.” Techcrunch.com
On Hollywood: (Defending his appearance in nudity-filled “Wedding Crashers”) “In Washington, I work with boobs every day.”
Celebrity moment: Cameo appearance in “Wedding Crashers.” (Robert Sullivan / EPA)
Barack Obama
Campaign soundtrack: John Mayers Waiting on the World to Change, Ben Harpers Better Way
Favorite TV show: HBOs The Wire and Sportscenter
Celebrity entourage: Oprah Winfrey, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Ben Harper, Toni Morrison, Gov. Janet Napolitano (Arizona), Sen. Claire McCaskill (Missouri), Hulk Hogan
On the iPod: I wont let Apple release the new and improved iPod the day after you bought the previous model. (From “Top Ten Campaign Promises” as read by David Letterman on the “Late Show.”)
On Hollywood: “I would call upon the video game industry to give parents better information about programs and video games by improving the voluntary rating system we currently have. Broadcasters and video game producers should take it upon themselves to improve this system to include easier to find and easier to understand descriptions of exactly what kind of content is included. But if the industry fails to act, then my administration would.” (www.commonsensemedia.org)
Celebrity moment: The candidate opened the Nov. 3 episode of “Saturday Night Live” appearing at a Halloween party hosted by Hillary Rodham Clinton, taking off a Barack Obama mask to reveal himself as the guest. He then got to deliver the signature “Live from New York!” line.
FOR THE RECORD An earlier version incorrectly said Barack Obama wore a Hillary Clinton mask during his appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Ron Paul
Campaign soundtrack: Despite a fanatical following, Ron Paul hasn’t won anything, so that winning soundtrack hasn’t been widely documented. But, after finishing up in Nevada, a Ron Paul campaign song and video created by The Violets, a New York-based band, made the rounds and has now seen over 50,000 views on YouTube.
Favorite movie/TV show: TV Guide is going to release info on the candidates’ favorite shows. Paul hasn’t been forthcoming with the info, but being a Libertarian, maybe he likes reruns of “Gilligan’s Island.” They were pretty free, except that they couldn’t get off the island and could mainly drink only coconut juice.
Celebrity entourage: WWE wrestler Kane, ex-”Baywatch” babe Donna DErrico, and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” cast member Emma Caulfield.
On Hollywood: “[I trust] some of [the media.] But I trust the Internet a lot more, and I trust the freedom of expression. And that’s why we should never interfere with the Internet.”
Celebrity moment: While on “The Tonight Show,” Jay Leno mentioned that Paul was a gynecologist, then joked, Ron Paul was the only person running to have said ‘Take off your clothes’ to more women than Bill Clinton. (Gabriel Bouys / AFP/Getty Images)
