McCain to Attend Lance Armstrong Event

July 24, 2008 -- When it's comes to star spotting on 2008 presidential trail, what's a Republican presidential nominee to do when he's competing with endorsements of Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson and Bruce Springsteen on the Democratic side?

On Thursday, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will add a little star to his galaxy appearing alongside cyclist and fellow cancer survivor Lance Armstrong to share his cancer plan during a presidential town hall meeting at the LIVESTRONG Summit.

While appearing with the seven-time Tour de France winner is a headline-grabber for McCain, Katherine McLane, a spokeswoman for Armstrong's foundation, pushed back on the idea that it would be an endorsement for the Republican presidential candidate.

Though Armstrong would be free to make an endorsement as an individual citizen, his 501c nonprofit foundation is "not partisan" and does not endorse in the presidential election.

In the past, Armstrong himself has steered clear of making political endorsements and strives to make the foundation's work reach members on both sides of the aisle

An invitation to attend the summit was also extended to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who was unable to attend.

"We look forward to hearing what his plans are against cancer at some point before the election," McLane said of Obama, who lost his mother to cancer in 1995.

If the McCain camp seems hungry for celebrity sightings, you can hardly blame them. The Republican candidate's appearance with Armstrong comes as plans for a star-studded Democratic convention begin to take shape.

While the DNC has offered no official list yet, expect to see plenty of left-leaning celebrities. Expected to be in the vicinity: politically minded actor Ben Affleck, director Spike Lee and actor-director Ed Norton, who is filming a documentary on the Illinois senator's rise to the nomination.

Actress Scarlett Johansson, who has bragged about her "heartfelt" affection for the Democratic nominee, has a scheduling conflict and won't be there, her publicist claims.

Musical guests include Kanye West, Wyclef Jean, John Legend, Q-Tip and the Black Eyed Peas. What looms over them all is the larger-than-life speculation of a Bruce Springsteen performance following Obama's Thursday night speech. There's been no announcement from the iconic rocker, who endorsed Obama in April, but fans note a suspiciously empty week in Springsteen's tour schedule the week of the Democratic convention in Denver.

Wyclef will headline a fundraiser for Rock the Vote at the Denver Opera House on Wednesday night of the convention. The non-partisan, 18-year-old organization dedicated to encouraging young voters to "claim their voice in the political process" will partner with Lifetime at the Republican National Convention for a similar event, though there is no list of performers available at this time.

Spokeswoman Chrissy Faessen says Rock the Vote will "be bringing the artists together at the convention to help influence and use them and their influences among young people to engage them in the political process."

Last month, Rock the Vote launched its 2008 efforts with a public service ad featuring Christina Aguilera singing "America the Beautiful" while holding her son, swaddled in an American flag. The scene was a takeoff of the ad Madonna filmed for Rock the Vote in 1992, draped in red, white and blue.

The Republicans will draw their fair share of stars to the Twin Cities as well, though the list -- if the appearances and fundraising spreadsheets of primary season are any indication -- doesn't offer the same star wattage.

President Bush recommended sending one celebrity out of the GOP orbit when he welcomed the Super Bowl-winning New York Giants to the White House.

"We're going to send Jessica Simpson to the Democrat National Convention," Bush joked. Simpson was widely blamed for boyfriend Tony Romo's losing playoff performance against the Giants.