The New York Times-20080125-Obama-s Promises on Letterman
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Obama's Promises on Letterman
If elected, Senator Barack Obama will name Oprah Winfrey his vice president and appoint Mitt Romney the secretary of lookin' good.
Mr. Obama, a Democratic presidential candidate, announced those campaign promises and eight others in the familiar Top 10 segment of Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday night. Among the other one-liners on Mr. Obama's list: I will double your tax money at the craps table; I'll rename the 10th month of the year 'Barack-tober' ; and I'll pronounce the word nuclear, nuclear.
Mr. Obama taped the Top 10 list between campaign stops in South Carolina on Thursday. His appearance on the show comes two days before the Democratic primary in that state.
Mr. Obama is the third presidential candidate to appear on Late Show this month. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed Mr. Letterman back to television on Jan. 2 after a two-month strike-induced hiatus. John Edwards visited Mr. Letterman in New York on Tuesday. Late Show is essentially the only late-night television show that the Democratic candidates can appear on, because all three candidates have pledged their support for the striking members of the Writers Guild of America, who are actively picketing outside the studios of Jay Leno, Jon Stewart and other talk show hosts.
You can't muss my hair, Mr. Obama told Mr. Letterman after reading the list, a reference to the host's friendly tousling of Mr. Edwards's hair earlier in the week.
BRIAN STELTER
