Topping a day of rapid-fire surprises, John McCain announced he has signed for dual roles in the sequel to Mel Brooks' classic film comedy, "Blazing Saddles." McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, is also slated for a cameo in the new film.

In a statement issued by his campaign, McCain said he would seek to delay the final two presidential debates until either "the Hollywood box-office crisis" or the election is over.

"My friends, this is no time for partisanship," McCain said. "Nothing less than the future of our film industry and my career in cameo roles is at stake. With my leadership in two supporting roles and the help of Mel Brooks—gosh, he cracks me up—the American people will once again know they can laugh all the way to the bank, even if that bank has been closed by greedy Wall Street speculators."

Unsurprisingly, McCain will show two faces in the film, tentatively titled "Blazing Saddles II: Passing the Wind." In one role, McCain will play the Gabby Hayes-like character of the mumbling old codger. His other part reprises the late Harvey Korman's role of Hedley Lamarr, now a conniving U.S. senator and presidential nominee plotting with oil companies to evict the residents of Black Rock and declare war on Mexico. No word yet on who's been cast to wear the spurs of the late Cleavon Little as Black Bart, who went from community organizer to sheriff in the first film and is now Lamarr's political opponent.

Showing off what he called his "technological versatility," McCain also will provide all sound effects for the extended campfire scene in the new movie. According to Brooks, the new scene "makes the original sound like lunch at a Trappist monastery."

Palin will reprise the late Madeline Kahn's role as the exotic, if vapid, songstress Lili Von Shtupp. Palin could not be reached for comment.

Rumors are floating around Tinseltown that George W. Bush may play the role made famous by Slim Pickens, whose best line in the original film was, "Has anybody got a dime? Somebody's gotta go back and get a shitload of dimes."