Washington  - Every four years, Americans lay claim to a right found nowhere in the US Constitution - that the presidential campaign not only inform, but also entertain.

The US vote is less than three days away and Republican John McCain's numbers are down in the polls, but the senator laid aside his campaign invective against Democrat Barack Obama and appeared on the weekly comedy show Saturday Night Live.

With running mate Sarah Palin's look-alike comedian Tina Fey at his side, McCain pitched a series of fake, cheesy campaign souvenirs to the public to help his famously underfunded campaign.

"I'm a true maverick - a Republican without money," McCain quipped.

There were action figures of Joe the Plumber and Joe Six-Pack, two icons of the 2008 race representing the Everyman McCain and Palin said they are championing. Then there was one of Joe Biden, Obama's running mate, famous for being long-winded.

Wind him up and he talks 45 minutes, the pair said.

"It's great if you want to clear out a party," a straight-faced McCain said.

In an aside to the camera, Fey as Palin poked fun at the tensions within the campaign that reportedly have Palin bristling under instructions from McCain's staff about what to say and do.

The hitherto little-known Alaska governor has built a considerable constituency within the conservative wing of the Republican Party on the campaign trail although more moderate Republicans believe Palin has contributed to McCain's campaign woes.

Holding up a T-shirt that said, "Palin in 2012," Fey as Palin winked as she urged fans to buy it but not wear it until after Tuesday.

"I'm not gonna go back to Alaska," she said. "If I'm not going to the White House, I'm gonna be a white Oprah," referring to talk-show host Oprah Winfrey.

McCain had the final word in the skit with another sales pitch: "Remember, all undergarments are unrefundable."

Palin, who has been spoofed by Fey regularly since her nomination in early September, also appeared in person on the liberal-leaning comedy sketch how recently and drew 14 million viewers, the largest audience the NBC show has had in a while.

After Saturday's skit, McCain reappeared on Saturday Night Live's satirical weekly news roundup to describe all the new campaign strategies he might try in the remaining three days.

One was "the double maverick, where I go totally berserk and freak everybody out."

Another was the "sad grandpa," in which the 72-year-old senator said he would go on TV and say, "Come on! Obama's gonna have plenty of chances to be president. It's my turn!" (dpa)