Mother's Day messages

With Mother's Day coming up, John McCain and Barack Obama made sure today to honor theirs -- women who have played intriguing roles in their presidential bids.

McCain launched a TV ad featuring his 96-year-old mother Roberta, an active, vivacious woman whom he often points to on the campaign trail when asked about the fact that, if elected, at 72 he would be the oldest person to start a term as president.

In the ad, titled "Johnny's mom," the two josh around about when he was born -- McCain says on a Friday, she says on a Saturday -- and their relationship.

"He was the sweetest, nicest child I've ever known," Roberta McCain says. "I think he'll make a wonderful president."

McCain says that he's not perfect, that he doesn't pay enough attention to his mother.

"I have no complaints," she replies.

The ad will air on Sunday on Mother's Day on select satellite TV channels popular with mothers, including ABC Family, A&E, Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, Oxygen, and TLC.

Obama, in an interview on CNN, was asked what his mother -- a single mom who went on food stamps for a time -- would think about her son on the cusp of being the first African-American nominee for president.

"She’d say don’t let it get to your head, just keep on working hard. But I think she’d be pretty proud," Obama replied. "Everything that I am I owe to her. She was the kindest, most generous person I ever met and her values and her integrity still guide me. She is somebody who when I am confronted with difficult choices, I have to ask myself what would she expect of me? And I think that’s usually a good guidepost."

In campaign ads and speeches on his healthcare plan, Obama talks about watching Stanley Ann Dunham die of cancer in 1995 worried about how she would afford care.

Obama also made sure to mention his wife, Michelle. "Now, I’ve got to say that the mother that counts most in my life at the moment is Michelle who through a very difficult process continues to raise two of the best daughters that anybody would ever want and she’s out on the campaign trail at the same time and keeping me straight, so happy Mother’s Day to her as well."