Political play of the day: DeGeneres talks Obama into dancing

MIAMI — They really will do anything to get elected.

At the end of a long campaign day Tuesday in Florida, Democrat Barack Obama had one more stop: "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

DeGeneres got right down to business.

"Let's talk about dancing," she said. "Your wife, Michelle, was on the show and she was talking some smack about your moves."

DeGeneres played music and gave Obama 20 seconds to prove his spouse wrong. He complied, albeit in a decidedly awkward set of circumstances — standing alone on a patch of concrete and looking into cameras that were to beam him into the studio, as supporters and reporters watched.

He gamely grooved a little, though mostly with his arms, before calling off the operation with a smile.

"Michelle may be a better dancer, but I am convinced I am a better dancer than John McCain," Obama said of his Republican rival.

During the brief appearance, Obama revealed the Halloween costumes his two daughters have planned. Ten-year-old Malia will be a fairy and 7-year-old Sasha has chosen to go trick-or-treating as a "corpse bride," he said.

Obama also offered to help DeGeneres with her campaign to lure George Clooney onto her show, agreeing it would be one of the new president's most important priorities. If elected, he said he would appoint Clooney "ambassador to the Ellen show."

"We would have you and him sit down without preconditions and solve any differences that you may have," Obama said. "Just don't talk about my dancing anymore."

The interview is scheduled to air today.