Sen. Hillary Clinton mocked her “3 a.m.” ad, while Sen. Barack Obama added manufactured political “distractions” to host Stephen Colbert’s “On Notice Board” on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report Thursday.

“I think the American people are tired of these political games and petty distractions,” declared Obama. Stephen Colbert’s response:

“Speaking for the news media, we are not tired of it, It allows us to ask the same questions over and over again, and we don’t have to do any work.”

So who won Wednesday’s debate, in Colbert’s eyes? John Edwards.

The candidate of the adult wing of the Democratic party who didn’t make it to Pennsylvania - but who looks better in hindsight - suddenly appeared during Colbert’s faux report on the courting by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

“Finally, America’s white men are being heard, and the candidates are attempting to address issues of concern to them,” Colbert said in front of images of Clinton downing a shot and a beer and Obama attempting to bowl.

Mocking the continued efforts of both remaining candidates to secure his support, the former North Carolina Senator declared that, “No white male vote is being courted more vigorously than this one.”

Commenting on his two warring endorsement options, John Edwards noted that, on the one hand, he did not want to cast a vote that was “anti-hope.”

But, recalling the response of a virulent Clinton backer to another former candidate, Bill Richardson, when he announced his endorsement of Barack Obama, Edwards said, “On the other hand, I don’t want James Carville to bite me.”

Restating his campaign call for a more serious focus on economic issues - which were almost entirely missing from Wednesday night’s debate - John Edwards announced that he would vote in the upcoming North Carolina primary.

His choice on May 6, he says, will be for the candidate who best advocates for ending poverty and providing universal health care.

Failing that, he said, “I will only support the candidate who promises to make me a spy. That would be so cool.”

Even Stephen Colbert was cracking up at that.

Easily the least defensive and most good-humored “contender,” John Edwards reminded everyone of what was lost when he exited the race - and of why the remaining candidates really are still campaigning for his endorsement.