Hotline After Dark -- The Fun Factor

John McCain, Sarah Palin and Barack Obama all made the TV rounds last night.

FNC's Hannity sat down with McCain and Palin in Coopersburg, PA.

McCain, asked if he and Palin give each other debate advice: "No, the only advice we give each other is to have fun -- two words -- and we talk before the debates, and just have fun, and it was obvious that certainly Sarah was having fun at her debate, and I was trying to have fun at mine, and I think we did."

McCain, on drilling in ANWR: "Sarah Palin is so persuasive, I would like to come to Alaska. I haven't been there in many years anyway, and maybe I'll agree to go visit that area and have a look."

McCain, asked if the American people should care about Obama's association with Bill Ayers: "I think they should care about Senator Obama's truthfulness. I don't care much about old terrorist and his wife who are still unrepentant. ... It's not about them. It's about Senator Obama being candid and straight forward with the American people about their relationship. He has dismissed it by saying he was just a guy in the neighborhood. We know it's much more than that. Let's reveal all the details of that relationship and then the American people can make a judgment."

More after the jump, including Michelle Obama on "LKL."

(KATHERINE LEHR)

Hannity: "Should the American people be concerned that he's capable in a post-9/11 world of fighting terrorism, when he is friends with an unrepentant terrorist?"

McCain: "Well, I think that's also part of the judgment the American people make. But first, I think we ought to have a full and complete examination of the relationship. And then the American people can make a judgment."

Hannity: "Do you think this needs to be asked more in your next debate?"

McCain: "Well, I hope it's vetted out, if it needs to be vetted out. And I think the American people understand whether Senator Obama."

Palin, asked what Obama's association with Ayers tells her about him: "Tells me again we need to question his judgment. And you know not only those terrorist activities that Bill Ayers was involved in, but the questions need to be asked, I believe, when did Barack Obama know of his activities? We've heard so many confliction stories, and flip-flop answers about when he knew the guy, did he realize that he kicked off his political career in the guy's living room? First it was yes, and then it was no. It comes down to again, judgment and truthfulness and a candidate's character."

Hannity: "This is now part of a larger narrative that's emerging. ... He's friends with Father Pfleger, a fairly radical figure in Chicago, Tony Rezko, a convicted slumlord. ... And we know that he spent 20 years in the pews of Reverend Wright, who has said the most outrageous things. ... What does that tell you, Governor, about Senator Obama and his radical associations?"

Palin: "It goes right back again to the candidate's judgment and who he chooses to associate himself with in the past, perhaps the present. It makes me question who he would associate himself with in the future" ("Hannity & Colmes," 10/8).

And Palin sat down solo with FNC's Van Susteren before a campaign rally in Jacksonville, FL.

Van Susteren: "Let's talk about Bill Ayers. And you've been going after Senator Obama pretty aggressively recently. Is that your job?"

Palin: "I think it's my job when I'm asked about or read about, as I did in the New York Times the other day, this association is pretty significant. ... This is an unrepentant domestic terrorist."

Van Susteren: "I think he said he was unaware when he first met him. Do you give him a pass on that?

Palin: "No. It's hard to believe that someone wouldn't have known Bill Ayers. ... I've known of Bill Ayers way up there in the north."

Van Susteren: "How about Reverend Wright and Father Pfleger?"

Palin: "Well, I haven't brought that one up. I did respond to a question the other day. ... That's John McCain's call on that one, also, though, whether he wants to discuss that association and some of the things that reverend has said about our great country."

Van Susteren: "So you take a pass on it right now on that question?"

Palin: "Sure. ... We'll let John McCain take it" ("On the Record," 10/8).

YOU TALKIN' TO ME?

ABC's Gibson sat down with Obama in Indianapolis, IN, for Obama's first interview since the 10/7 presidential debate.

Gibson: "John McCain has unloaded on you in the last 72, 96 hours as has Sarah Palin. McCain is saying, essentially, we don't know who Barack Obama is, where he came from. ... Were you surprised, A, that he didn't bring it up last night at the debate and use that line of attack? And, B, since you must have prepared for it, what were you going to say?"

Obama: "Well, I am surprised that, you know, we've been seeing some pretty over-the-top attacks coming out of the McCain campaign over the last several days that he wasn't willing to say it to my face. But I guess we've got one last debate. So presumably, if he ends up feeling that he needs to, he will raise it during the debate. The notion that people don't know who I am is a little hard to swallow. I've been running for president for the last two years. I've campaigned in 49 states. Millions of people have heard me speak at length on every topic under the sun. I've been involved now in 25 debates, going on my 26th. And I've written two books which everybody who reads them will say are about as honest a set of reflections by, at least, a politician as are out there."

More Obama: "Senator McCain's campaign has been focusing on me primarily because they don't want to focus on the economy. And they've said as much. I mean, you've had their spokespeople over the last couple of days say if we talk about the economic crisis, we lose. I mean, you can't be much more blatant than that."

Obama, asked if he is going to have to address the Ayers situation again: "Why don't we just clear it up right now? I'll repeat again what I've said many times. This is a guy who engaged in some despicable acts 40 years ago when I was eight years old. By the time I met him, 10 or 15 years ago, he was a college professor of education at the University of Illinois. And we served on a school reform board together, by the way, that was funded by Walter Annenberg, who had been an ambassador and close friend of Ronald Reagan. And so I have talked to him about school reform issues."

More Obama: "And the notion that somehow he has been involved in my campaign, that he is an adviser of mine, that I've palled around with a terrorist, all these statements are made simply to try to score cheap political points. And, you know, the idea that the McCain campaign would want to make this the centerpiece of the discussion in the closing weeks of a campaign where we are facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and we're in the middle of two wars, I think makes very little sense not just to me but to the American people. ... I can handle these attacks for the remaining four weeks, but it's certainly not serving our democracy right now" ("World News," 10/8).

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER

In the series "Presidential Questions," CBS' Couric asked McCain and Obama the same set of questions on last night's "Evening News."

Couric: "What do you think is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to this country?"

McCain: "Obviously our founding was the best thing that ever happened to our country, because that was a unique collection of the most wise, informed and incredible individuals who joined together to found our nation and create a document that is still a model to the rest of the world. Maybe the worst thing that happened to America, in modern times is the Great Depression. It affected probably more, a greater percentage of our population than any other economic or other impact that we experienced. And literally, half the population, or 40 percent. Whatever it was, huge numbers that are incomprehensible were out of work. And people literally starved in America. And that, we can't ever repeat."

Obama: "The best thing that ever happened to this country was the founding fathers and the starting premise of America. You know, we hold these truths as self evident that all men are created equal endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, among these, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That idea just kept pushing throughout centuries, through a civil war, through civil rights, through women's rights. It became the North Star for people, not just in America but around the world. The worst probably would have to be slavery in this country. Although the treatment of native Americans often times showed great cruelty ... but slavery was a stain on this country. Fortunately, we had people like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman and Dr. King. ... So many were able to battle through that legacy. And we're still wrestling with it. But it's one where I feel more optimistic about the direction of this country."

Couric: "Who are the three people who are alive you would most like to have dinner with?"

Obama: "I would love to have dinner with Nelson Mandela before he passes away. Obviously he's getting on in years. ... Somebody I always love having a conversation with is Warren Buffet, who I talk to frequently. We've become good friends. ... I'm always struck by is how much he enjoys what he's doing. And how unaffected he's been by his success. He's just a plain spoken, you know, funny, he's like your favorite uncle. Except worth 56 billion and really smart. ... The third person I'd like to spend time with, my grandmother, who I've only seen once in the last 19 months. She's been the rock of my family. ... Spending time with her is something that's going to be a priority after the election is over."

McCain: "David Petraeus. General David Petraeus is one of them. I have appreciated his leadership and his ability to inspire the young Americans -- men and women who serve under him. I find him a fascinating individual. Obviously, I think that Meg Whitman who I admire enormously. ... She understands the American dream for young women in America, as well as all Americans. And of course, being a big sports nut, I would consider it a great, great pleasure to have dinner with any major league football or baseball player. You know, right now springs to mind Michael Phelps. ... He's inspired America and a lot of young Americans to do what he's done. But any of our Olympians, I would consider it a great honor" (CBS, 10/8).

NO HARD FEELINGS

M. Obama made an appearance on last night's "LKL."

M. Obama, asked if she took offense to McCain referring to her husband as "that one": "No. No. ... Folks out there right now are scared. They're nervous about the economy. They don't care about the sort of back and forth between the candidates."

L. King: "Do these two candidates, as has been reported, not like each other?"

M. Obama: "I can only speak for Barack. And I know that Barack has the utmost respect for Senator McCain. He's said so on so many occasions. You know, I think this has been a long, tough fight. And politics sometimes leads to things said between the candidates."

M. Obama, asked if she is mad about Palin saying her husband "pals around with terrorists": "Fortunately, I don't watch it. ... I've seen it. ... I don't know anyone in Chicago who's heavily involved in education policy who doesn't know Bill Ayers. But, you know, again, I go back to the point that, you know, the American people aren't asking these questions."

L. King: "So you bear her no umbrage?"

M. Obama: "Not at all. Not at all. I mean, that's not where we need to be right now. I mean, we need to be at a point where we're figuring out how to work together."

M. Obama, on Cindy McCain saying that B. Obama "is running the dirtiest campaign in American history": "Well, it's just not true. You know, it's a simple reaction. It's not true. And when something is not true, you don't take it to heart. You just keep rolling along. I've been so proud of the way that Barack has conducted himself in this campaign. ... What we saw in that debate, one of his many gifts is to be able to take really complex issues and make them real for people and explain them in a way that doesn't seem condescending or disrespectful. I don't think Barack has that kind of bone in his body. That's not his instinct. And his campaign doesn't reflect that."

L. King: "So the next time, let's say you run into her, you wouldn't say anything?"

M. Obama: "I saw her last night. And I don't know when she said this, but, you know, I shook her hand. We shake hands. She addresses me politely. We have a very respectful relationship. So, you know, you can't have hard feelings."

M. Obama, asked how she reacts when people talk about the Tom Bradley effect: "People talk about it all the time. But, it's theoretical in the case of this election. ... Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee. If there was going to be a Bradley effect, or it was going to be in play, Barack wouldn't be the nominee" (CNN, 10/8).