Democrats inserting Cheney in the race

As if John McCain needed more advice on who to pick as his running mate, a new website provides some unwelcome counsel.

The Democratic National Committee yesterday launched a website that argues that whoever McCain picks, he or she will be tied to Vice President Dick Cheney, the powerful but unpopular number two to President Bush.

The website lists seven of the most talked-about contenders; for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney it says he "changed his positions on immigration and Social Security to match Bush and Cheney's." Romney dismissed the website, saying on CNN yesterday, "Suggesting we're all like Dick Cheney or all like George Bush is a nice effort on their part, but I frankly don't think it will fly."

Cheney, himself, may not show up at the GOP convention. Cheney's press secretary left the question open yesterday, saying his schedule has not been set for September, when the convention happens in St. Paul. It would be highly unusual for a sitting vice president to skip his party's convention.

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Paris Hilton, like, totally attacks 'super-old' McCain
Well, it had to happen.

Paris Hilton, star of reality TV and B-movies, couldn't pass up a chance for publicity by responding to John McCain's ad calling Barack Obama "the biggest celebrity in the world" amid images of her and Britney Spears. Posted yesterday on the comedy website funnyordie.com, the Hilton video opens with an announcer saying of McCain, "He's the oldest celebrity in a the world, like, super-old."

Then Hilton, lounging on a pool chair in a revealing swimsuit, says the "wrinkly, white-haired guy" put her into the presidential race. She proceeds to outline her energy policy that she says is a "hybrid" of Obama's and McCain's. "Energy crisis solved," she says.

"I'm Paris Hilton and I approved this message, and I think it's totally hot," she concludes after throwing a kiss to the camera.

The McCain campaign actually issued a response last night. "It sounds like Paris Hilton supports John McCain's 'all of the above' approach to America's energy crisis - including both alternatives and drilling. Paris Hilton might not be as big a celebrity as Barack Obama, but she obviously has a better energy plan," spokesman Tucker Bounds said in a statement.

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