Clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose: 2012 candidates court Hollywood

Amy Walter

Politically Foul

Politicians went pop culture this week, but many learned that sometimes it's best to leave Hollywood to the professionals.

President Obama headed west for a star-studded gala where big names like Jon Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder, and Katy Perry -- who hands down bore the most colorful endorsement for the president -- served as his warm-up act.

"They just perform flawlessly, night after night. I can't always say the same," said Obama, finally acknowledging what just about everyone else in America believes about his debate performance. But, doing it at a swanky Hollywood fundraiser? We call foul.

Romney got his own star turn this week, when Buzz Bissinger, the author of "Friday Night Lights," took to the web to endorse him. But the GOP candidate went a step further, co-opting the pre-game chant from the hit Friday Night Lights TV show.

"There's a saying that I've found pretty compelling: Clear eyes, full heart, can't lose," he has said at recent rallies in Iowa and Ohio.

Former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey knows a little something about Hollywood. As Governor in the 80's he dated actress Debra Winger. While he is no longer one-half of a Hollywood couple, Kerrey is running for office again, for U.S. Senate. And his friend Steve Martin put his home crafts skills to use to endorse him.

Given his standing in the polls, Kerrey needs more than some wadded paper to move into the lead.

Everyone wants to get a leg up on their competition, but Washington gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna may have taken it a step too far when he attempted the Gangnam style dance. In public.

Along with eating a corn dog on camera, dancing is a huge political no-no.

Check out this week's Politically Foul for more hits and misses on the campaign trail, including rapper endorsements, and the biggest celebrity endorsement -- that wasn't actually an endorsement.