LOS ANGELES, CA - Joe Biden made the talk show rounds on his first West Coast swing as a VP candidate - pitching the Democratic ticket on NBC’s Tonight Show and the day time talk show Ellen and getting in a few laughs at his own expense.

Leno’s show kicked off with Biden thanking Leno for having him on despite his many gaffes — then turning to the camera to say “Live From New York, It’s Saturday Night!”

And confronted with a recent screw-up — calling “jobs” a three letter word before spelling out “J-O-B-S” at a campaign stop in Ohio, Biden said “Iknew I shouldn’t have had lunch with Dan Quayle.”

The Delaware Senator also got in some digs at Joe the Plumber, saying “we’re kind of worried about Joe the fireman, Joe the policeman, Joe the real plumber with a license.”

And: “what about this Joe?” Biden asked, pointing to himself. “I hardly get any coverage. That’s why I wanted to be on this show. Thank you so much.”

While he acknowledged that the Democrats have a lead with less than three weeks to go, Biden said anything can happen. “Less than three weeks now is a lifetime in American politics here. And we’re going to have to work awful hard to be able to win this election. You’ve all got to show up and vote.”

On Ellen, Biden did not partake in the traditional dancing on taking the stage — though the song, David Bowie’s “Changes,” wasn’t exactly conducive to getting down.He did, however, allow Ellen to call him “Joe,” though he set a condition: “only if you wink at me.”

Following heartthrob actor Collin Farrell, Biden complained “I’m playing the old guy role anyway, in this whole campaign, and now I gotta come behind him?”

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BURBANK, CA — McCain and Leno had a lively exchange and took cracks at one another in addition to talking politics during this afternoon’s taping of the Tonight Show, the Arizona Senator’s 13th appearance on the show.

Leno began poking fun at McCain during his opening monologue. Best Leno hits:

–”Tropical Storm Fay has soaked Floria, ringing thousands of homes, ruining thousands of homes, most of them belonging to John McCain. In fact to make Sen. McCain feel at home tonight, I gave him 7 dressing rooms.

–”It was this week in 1814, British troops set fire to the White House. Did you know that? The White House was saved, it was saved thanks to the actions of one brave young soldier, John McCain.”

McCain, who turns 72 years old Friday, immediately reacted to Leno’s 1814 joke and had fun with age upon walking on stage:

McCain: By the way, thanks for mentioning about my heroism in there, it was remarkable-
Leno: 1814
McCain: Saving Washignton. A lot of people think I shouldn’t have like a lot of people. But also you forgot to mention when I warned the people about the British coming–
Leno: Right. You know I didn’t want to go on, you know. Sometimes its too much (laughter) Now speaking of that, I know you have a birthday Friday.
McCain: Thank you for mentioning that. (pretends to fall asleep in his chair)
Leno: We were going to have a cake but the fire marshal—
Leno: Now we have done a few jokes about that-
McCain: A few?
Leno: A few jokes-
McCain A few thousand!
Leno: Does that ever bother you ?
McCain: I’ve got one. My Social Security number is 8.
Leno: Wow.

McCain then took his own shot at Leno but the late night host immediately turned around the joke on the GOPer, playing off of the housing kerfuffle from last week.

McCain: I know you have been asking about who I want to be as my runningmate. Now wouldn’t it be good to have a person, you don’t know what party they’re with, they have no political principles whatsoever, they may need a job about that time. Who could I be referring to?
Leno: Thank you, thank you very much. I can make more doing a week in Vegas but thanks! It’s a lousy job for the money.
McCain: The house is nice. The house is nice.
Leno: Yeah, but you got enough of those
McCain: There you go–
Leno: You need a white one too?

While the conversation stayed relatively light, when Leno brought up the houses issue later on during the interview McCain took the conversation in a more sober direction.

McCain: You know, could I just mention to you Jay in a moment of seriousness. I spent five and a half years in a prison cell. Without a - I didn’t have a house, I didn’t have a kitchen table. I didn’t have a table, I didn’t have a chair. And I spent those five and a half years not because I wanted to get a house when I got out. And you know I am very proud of cindy’s father. He was a guy that barely got out of high school, fought in World War II in the Army Air Corps, came home and made a business and made the American dream. And so somehow - you have had Cindy on this show and the fact is that she is very generous. She goes around the world doing humanitarian stuff. She’s now in Georgia as we speak looking at the humanitarian aspects of the results of this Russian invasion. So I am proud of my life and my record and we spend our time at condominum in Washington, a condominum in Phoenix, some time over here in the state of California and we have a place in Northern Arizona. And my friends, I am proud of my record of service to this country and it has nothing to do with houses. What it has to do with putting Americans in houses and keeping them in their homes.

A regular on Letterman this campaign season, Hillary Clinton took a seat on the couch of his Los Angeles Late Night Rival — and took her share of good natured lumps.

In an intro at the top of the show, she did a sketch skewering her 3am phone call ad, fielding a call from Leno asking her to appear on the show before saying “we’ve GOT to get caller ID.”

And in the monologue, Leno mocked her recent Rocky Balboa infatuation, saying “We have the Italian stallion on the show tonight — Hillary Clinton, ladies and gentlemen.”

She even got in on the action herself — joking about that harrowing tale of landing under sniper fire that’s been a staple of late night comedians. Walking out to the theme from Rocky, Clinton told Leno she was worried she wouldn’t make the show — saying “I was pinned down by sniper fire.” Leno replied “In LA, that might be true.”

Asked about her daughter saying she would make a better president than her husband, Clinton joked that “she’s such a smart young woman.” And as for Bill Clinton’s infamous red-faced outbursts on the trail this year, Hillary acknowledged that she tries to rein him in. “I’ve told him OK, honey, it’s alright. We don’t have to go get excited about it,” she said. “But he does get a little carried away sometimes.”

Las Vegas, NV—

Governor Romney appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night. There were more serious questions than you might have thought, but Romney did mention the traveling press corps (us!):

“We don’t treat them real well,” Romney continued, “The guys that follow us in the presidential race come in a whole group. We put them in the back of the aircraft. We feed them lousy food. We wake them up early in the morning to go to events … we don’t give them chairs to sit on, either. So they have a tough go of it, but they’re doing their job.”

I can personally attest to the lousy food comment. After covering the Romney campaign for three and a half months they still usually refuse to get me (and the other vegetarians on board) a non-meat option. Every day is an adventure: will today be the day that they remember and I get to eat? Usually not. . .

Romney’s chair comment refers to a testy exchange between Governor Romney and Associated Press Reporter, Glen Johnson. Leno asked Romney about his relationship with the press:

“These guys have a tough job to do. I respect the fact they’ve got to ask me tough questions and get in my face, but if I don’t agree, I’m going to come back hard as well.”

Romney campaigned in Nevada this morning and mentioned his appearance:

“Last night I was on Jay Leno, anybody see that?,” Romney continued, “What a thrill that is. I never imagined I’d be on the T.V. with Jay Leno. He’s quite a guy. He played it straight though, no tough questions and I got a chance to have a little fun with him.”

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Las Vegas, NV–

Governor Romney is going to appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno this evening, the night before the South Carolina primary and Nevada caucuses. He told reporters if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em:

“I figure it’s the only way I can be in South Carolina and Nevada at the same time. But in reality, Mike Huckabee did it before Iowa and he won, so maybe it will do the same thing for me.”

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Romney chuckled, but he was very serious when discussing the two states.” He has been criticized for leaving the Palmetto State, but has a strong lead in Nevada:

“I’m campaigning in 50 states not in two or three. I’m pleased to have the chance this week to spend time in South Carolina. We are fighting hard there to do well, and fighting hard to do well here in Nevada, and I appreciate the support that I’ve had over the last several contests.”

He also commented on the continued push polling against him in states like South Carolina, taking the opportunity to jab Huckabee:

“It does tend to be very complimentary of Governor Huckabee and it’s not complimentary of me,” Romney continued, “The information that has been shared about me is wrong. It’s not accurate. It is misleading and anyone associated with that in any way should take action to have it stopped.”

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Romney has been campaigning in the Silver State since yesterday, the only Republican here ahead of tomorrow’s caucuses:

“I think it’s going be real hard to win the presidency if by not showing up in Nevada you communicate that Nevada doesn’t matter to you as much as it does to the other guys.”

Romney will continue to campaign here tomorrow before heading off to Florida. He is also expected to roll out his short-term economic relief plan on Saturday. He told reporters today that it “has many similar features” to President Bush’s plan.