Seriously trailing in the polls, raising questions everywhere he goes about his continued viability as a candidate, John McCain brought out the big guns this week: he asked his moms, 95-year-old Roberta McCain, to step out at MSNBC and tell the world what a great president her little Johnny would make. It’s like you went home with someone for Thanksgiving and are getting way too much information, a real “Curb Your Enthusiasm” level of awkwardness, real Americana!

Check McCain’s smile throughout. You’ve probably worn that one too in the presence of your mom. At one point he pipes up that mom’s views on Mormons, for example, don’t necessarily correlate with his or those of his campaign. But moms ain’t having any of that lawerly talk: “Well, that’s my view and you asked me,” she snaps. Excellent!