McCain: The original political celebrity  —  If Barack Obama gave new meaning to the term “political celebrity,” then John McCain helped define it.  —  He emerged as the most popular Republican in Hollywood following his 2000 presidential primary defeat, winning more screen time than the rest of Congress combined.

McCain is vetting Cantor  —  The McCain campaign is vetting Rep. Eric I. Cantor (R-Va.) as a potential vice-presidential candidate, a campaign adviser told Politico on Saturday.  —  Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is a top running-mate prospect for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), opening up the possibility …

McCain Lies About His Support For MLK Jr. Day in Arizona  —  Liar, liar, Grampa McSame pants on fire.  Clearly, McCain is not used to the YouTube generation where you can no longer lie without a bunch of bloggers furiously fact-checking.  And the facts for McCain, they don't look so good.

Right Gears Up to Fight “Armageddon of the Culture War”  —  For two hours earlier this week, pastors gathered at more than 200 sites throughout California, Arizona, and Florida to be exhorted by national Religious Right leaders like Tony Perkins, Harry Jackson, Maggie Gallagher …

Right strategy, wrong candidate?  —  Even a good strategy has to match the candidate  —  WASHINGTON - The hardest thing to do in politics is campaign as someone you aren't.  —  People can spot an imposter from a mile away.  —  The most successful politicians are the ones who embrace …

John McCain Blames Rise of Internet on New York Times Editorial Board  —  John McCain shoved his spokesperson out into the fray today and armed him with these words about the New York Times: … This is kind of like saying the price of oil is on the rise because people like the smell of gasoline.

When Voters Lie  —  It's a given that people fib in surveys, and this election season is especially tricky with race looming as an issue.  How pollsters are trying to uncover the truth. Please respond to the following statement:  —  People lie on polls:  —  Strongly agree  —  Agree somewhat

Linking Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears was calculated  —  By linking Barack Obama with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, Republicans tap racist fears of black men and white women  —  This is a lesson in how dog whistles work.  —  If you're not familiar with the term “dog whistle …

Immigrants Deported, by U.S. Hospitals  —  JOLOMCÚ, Guatemala — High in the hills of Guatemala, shut inside the one-room house where he spends day and night on a twin bed beneath a seriously outdated calendar, Luis Alberto Jiménez has no idea of the legal battle that swirls around him in the lowlands of Florida.

VEEP WATCH: AN INDIANA LAY OVER  —  From NBC's Mark Hudspeth and NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli  —  On the Veepwatch front, nothing's on Obama's schedule yet, but the traveling press registration e-mail has us flying to South Bend at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and not leaving until 3:25 p.m. the next day.