Rezko saga hits big time in SNL debate

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's relationship with convicted influence peddler Tony Rezko officially arrived as a national story Saturday: It became a punchline on "Saturday Night Live."

In a takeoff on Friday's presidential debate, the John McCain character criticized Obama's support for federal earmarks, including an $8.1 million earmark called the "Tony Rezko hush fund."

Obama's character shot back, "Sen. McCain, you know I withdrew that initiative after he began cooperating with federal authorities."

Rezko has been meeting with prosecutors but has said in the past he has no dirt to dish on his longtime friends Obama or Gov. Blagojevich.

In the skit, Obama's character promised tax breaks for Chicago City Council members and boasted that his tax plan exempts "bribes, kickbacks, shakedowns, embezzlement of government funds or extortion."