LOS ANGELES - Political debates inform voters--and provide material for late-night TV show hosts.
"Tonight's presidential debate took place in Nashville, Tenn. Which is perfect, because the economy right now is like a bad country music song: `I lost my girl, I lost the house, the dog died,'" Jay Leno said on NBC's "Tonight Show."
Although "Tonight" and other shows were taped before Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama met Tuesday night--Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" labeled it a "space-time continuum problem"--the jokes wouldn't be stopped.
"Tonight's presidential debate was a town hall forum," said Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report." "See, that allows the candidates to go around the media filter and lets regular Americans ask the questions that the candidates can ignore to deliver their stump speeches."
Obama took one for the "Tonight" show.
"It's a town hall format, which is John McCain's favorite way to speak to crowds. As opposed to Barack Obama's favorite way, a sermon on a mount," Leno quipped.
McCain's age proved a subject that never gets old.
"The second presidential debate is tonight, and beforehand John McCain said that the `gloves are coming off.' Then McCain said, `But don't worry, the diaper is staying on,'" quipped Conan O'Brien on NBC's "Late Night."
With the debate format, "the candidates can walk around freely," noted Craig Ferguson on CBS' "The Late Late Show." "McCain prepared by putting new tennis balls on his walker."
Meanwhile, Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, was holding fast as a late-night mainstay.
