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Barack Obama and John McCain experimented with political diplomacy and a couple of risky jokes before the sophisticated crowd last night in New York at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner. Here's a sampling, courtesy of the pool report, which came from Jeff Zeleny of the New York Times:

McCain (turning to a certain Clinton at the event): "I can't shake that feeling that some people here are pulling for me. I'm delighted to see you here tonight, Hillary." McCain also told the audience Obama didn't mind him calling him "that one." "In fact, he even has a pet name for me: George Bush."

McCain also put aside jokes for a moment, and said Obama was "an impressive fellow in many ways. Political opponents can have a little trouble seeing the best in each other. I have seen this man at his best. I admire his great skill, energy and determination. It's not for nothing that he has inspired so many folks in his own party and beyond. Senator Obama talks about making history and he's made quite a bit of it already.

"There was a time when the mere invitation of an African American citizen to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage and an insult in many quarters. Today, it's world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. And good riddance," McCain said. "I can't wish my opponent luck, but I do wish him well."

Obama for his part praised McCain's military service and said, "I'm proud to be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you."

But he ribbed McCain for questioning, "Who is the real Barack Obama?" "I actually was not born in a manger," Mr. Obama said. "Barack is actually Swahili for 'That One.' I got my middle name from somebody who obviously didn't think I would ever run for president. "My middle name is actually Steve" (loud applause). "Barack Steve Obama."

A couple other jokes didn't go over as well. Zeleny said in his pool report that McCain and his wife "clapped only tepidly when Mr. Obama said, 'Fox News accused me of having two African American children in wedlock,'" and that the crowd seemed unsure how to respond. It was a sympathetic reference to a smear campaign the McCains endured in the 2000 election about their adopted daughter.

And the crowd actually booed a joke comparing the food and wine spread to that at a retreat of troubled insurance company AIG.

Obama also made fun of his own dramatic Democratic National Convention stage setup in Denver. "I was originally told the venue would be Yankee Stadium. Can somebody tell me what happened to the Greek columns that I requested?"

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