The Top 10 Everything of 2008

9. McCain's "Celeb" Ad

Hillary's "3 a.m." ad was probably classically more effective, but the McCain attempt to jujitsu Obama's European blitzkrieg was the most memorable and Rorschach-like official ad of the election. It was odd (with the sound off, it looks like a spot for Obama). It was attention-getting (it even prompted Paris Hilton to cut a rebuttal video for funnyordie.com). It was controversial (prompting overexcited charges that the young white women and phallic monuments cast Obama as a black sexual threat). No ad better intertwined the seriousness and silliness of this election.

Connect to this TIME Story