Hart probed for a variety of political viewpoints during the evening. Not all of them were related to President Obama. Given a list of a dozen prominent political figures—from Nancy Pelosi to Mitch McConnell—the group was asked whom they would least like to be seated next to on a plane and whom they would most like to sit next to. Six said they would be suffering to sit next to radio host Rush Limbaugh, and four picked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Eight wanted to sit next to Obama, and two wanted to sit next to McCain, though McCain may not want to sit next to Dave Sawyer—who said he wanted to talk to the vanquished candidate and ask him what he did wrong.
Six people said they would like to go on vacation with Bill and Hillary Clinton. Three said the Obamas. "We all know that Bill knows how to have fun," said Tom Stranger, 37, an accountant. When Hart asked who would choose the Clintons if they learned the 42nd president couldn't make it, no one raised his or her hand.
Michelle Obama got the best reviews of any political figure, even from those who were formerly cool to her. Sarah Palin, on the other hand, did not do well. Asked to describe her in a word or phrase, Alex Chambers, 27, a teacher, called her "comical," Lou called her an "idiot," and Stranger said, "I wish she would just go away." Scott: "If I wanted a stripper for president, she'd be my pick."