The Mac Daddy is pimpin' the missus

An extremely enthusiastic Sen. McCain stressed energy independence during brief remarks before more than 20,000 bikers Monday night at the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

“This is my first time here but I recognize that sound. It’s the sound of freedom and thank you for it,” McCain said as hundreds of bikers revved their engines at a Salute to Veterans rally on the Buffalo Chip campgrounds. “I thank you all very much for that unique Sturgis welcome.”

The McCain campaign sees a political opportunity out of Obama’s Berlin speech — to paint him as an out-of-touch celebrity — and today was no different.

McCain was joined on stage by his daughter Meghan and wife Cindy, who introduced her husband as the “only man that can keep us free.”

McCain also joked that he urged Cindy to participate in a campground beauty pageant that was taking place during his speech.

“I was looking at the Sturgis schedule and noticed that you have a beauty pageant and so I encouraged Cindy to compete. I told her, with a little luck, she could be the only woman ever to serve as both the First Lady and Miss Buffalo Chip,” he said to cheers.