In an obvious attempt to distinguish himself from Barack Obama — whom he has previously likened to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears in celebrity and vapidity — John McCain has chosen to take the social high road by sharing the bill at a Sturgis, South Dakota event with a bunch of strippers, drunken bikers and (most prestigiously of all!) "popular" "musician" Kid Rock…

As the presumptive nominee takes the stage, the "Ringin' Wet & Wild" women's wrestling event will be taking place on the main amphitheater. Two hours before then, the "Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant — Bikinis on the Beach" will be staged at a different venue. That affair is described by ESPN's Jim Caple as "essentially a topless beauty pageant. And occasionally bottomless, too."… Following McCain's speech, country stars Kellie Pickler and Kid Rock will be taking the very same stage for their own live performances.

Well, he certainly is distinguishing himself from Obama. There's no arguing that.

The cultural crossroads that is the Sturgis Rally could actually be fertile political ground for the Republican presidential nominee. Hosted in a town of 5,500, the event sees upward of half a million bikers over the course of a week. Many of them, the founder of the campground is quoted as saying, have expressed interest in seeing the Senator, whose POW background makes him a fan favorite. How the religious right will react is a whole other bag.

I don't see why the religious right would have a problem with this.

Unless maybe they hear about it.