McCain Letterman

Senator John McCain finally appeared on David Letterman's The Late Show on October 16, 2008, the day after the final presidential debate. A feud between David Letterman and John McCain erupted after the presidential candidate canceled his planned September 24 appearance at The Late Show. McCain, citing his need to return to Washington to deal with the economic crisis as his reason for the cancellation, instead appeared on Katie Couric's show, the CBS Evening News.¹ ²

Letterman has spent several shows criticizing McCain's decision, including dedicating his September 25th "Top 10 List" to McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin.

Fast Facts

Will be McCain's 13th appearance on the show²

Letterman invited Keith Olbermann instead of McCain¹

According to Letterman, the senator made him a personal call explaining his decision¹

Letterman used internal CBS cameras to broadcast how McCain was preparing for the show with Couric behind the scenes²

Letterman said: "Hey John, I got a question! You need a ride to the airport?"²

Letterman says he now feels like "an ugly date"

Top 10 Facts About Sarah Palin

10. Sometimes Sarah calls John McCain "Grandpa."

9. She stole that sexy librarian look from me.

8. Recently passed legislation to build a bridge to Funkytown.

7. Does great impressions of Tina Fey.

6. Favorite meal: moose nuggets and beaver jerky.

5. Working on Knight Rider spinoff about a talking snowmobile.

4. Favorite book? Late Show Fun Facts - available at fine stores everywhere.

3. Once spent a week in the hospital after attempting to put lipstick on a pit bull.

2. To improve her foreign policy experience, she recently went to the International House of Pancakes.

1. Only person I know who's not afraid to go hunting with Dick Cheney.

McCain Letterman Previous Encounter

Republican presidential candidate John McCain appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman on April 1, 2008 and traded jabs with host David Letterman. McCain appeared at the end of Letterman's monologue that had begun with a joke mocking McCain's age: "He looks like the guy who goes in to town for turpentine."

McCain began his own monologue about Letterman with: "You think that stuff's pretty funny don't ya?" During an interview later in the show, the two discussed issues surrounding Iraqi casualties, the national credit crisis, and the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.