Where's Whatshisname the Electrician?

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The Best of Washington Sketch: Campaign '08

The Washington Post's Dana Milbank and washingtonpost.com's Akira Hakuta look back on the highlights of the 2008 presidential race.

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Maybe McCain really should have all his rallies at midnight.

The Straight Talk Express heads from the airport toward the 65,000-seat Raymond James Stadium -- but the stadium is empty. McCain's rally is in a field across the street, where only 1,100 people are awaiting the candidate, an embarrassing showing for this big, Republican town.

But the candidate presses ahead with his usual stump speech, including the part calling Obama the "redistributionist in chief." On Sunday it came out as "redistrict." In Tampa, McCain calls Obama the seven-syllable "redistribution-in-ist in chief."

Blountville, Tenn., 11:36 a.m.

Where is Joe the Plumber when you need him? There are 5,000 people in the hangar for McCain's airport rally here, but only one bathroom in the hangar. It has two toilets caked in rust, no toilet paper and many flies.

When you have seven events in a day, it's hard to keep up with the advance work. As McCain begins delivering his speech, he gets some high-pitched feedback. "This microphone is brought to you by the Democratic National Committee," he jokes.

The sound problems subside. Not so the plumbing problems. When reporters board the press charter for the next leg, they discover that the toilet in the back of the plane is stuck in the flush mode and sending noxious gases into the cabin.

On Straight Talk Air, McCain's 737, conditions are more favorable. Salter has given a briefing on his sleepless state. "Eight cups of coffee and a half a pack of cigarettes later, I'm feeling pretty good," he reports. How will he get through the day? "Crystal meth," he jokes.

Pittsburgh, 2:10 p.m.

A punchy McCain introduces his sidekick, the former Democratic vice presidential nominee. "Joe the Lieberman and Joe the Plumber are the best," the candidate says. He tries to start a chant of "Joe! Joe! Joe! Joe!" but the crowd does not join in.

Indianapolis, 4:06 p.m.

McCain is introducing his traveling party to the 1,500-person airport rally when this microphone, too, malfunctions. He repeats the joke about the Democrats supplying the sound system.