WASHINGTON -- Democratic White House hopefuls turned into a crack comedy tag-team late Thursday when Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and former candidate John Edwards all appeared on a satirical news show.

Playing on her campaign theme "Solutions for America," a commanding Clinton came on the set of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" to fix a malfunctioning projection screen and, with the aid of a make-up artist, host Stephen Colbert's "too shiny" forehead.

"Senator Clinton, you're so prepared for any situation," gasped Colbert, who spoofs news pundits in his late night cable television laugh fest.

"I just love solving problems. Call me anytime. Call me at 3:00 a.m.," Clinton said, in a wink at the much-talked-about campaign ad portraying her as prepared to receive a dead-of-night crisis call at the White House.

Later, Colbert lamented, "I only wish Senator Obama could have joined us," as the Illinois senator popped up in a live feed on the screen above his desk.

"Senator Obama, won't Senator Clinton be happy that she fixed our screen?" Colbert dead-panned, a day after the rivals met face-to-face for an acrimonious debate.

Obama went on to complain of "manufactured political distractions" such as journalists questioning why he does not usually wear an American flag lapel pin.

"I think the American people are tired of these games and petty distractions," a broadly grinning Obama said.

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

In another surprise appearance, former candidate John Edwards walked on set after Colbert said that white men will be a decisive demographic in this year's presidential race "but they have no one to represent them."

"Finally, America's white men are being heard, and the candidates are attempting to address" issues important to them, Colbert said, flashing pictures of Clinton in a bar swilling beer, Obama bowling and Republican John McCain apparently napping.

"No white male vote is being courted more vigorously than this one," Edwards joked of tireless efforts by his former rivals to win his endorsement.

Edwards said he would vote for whoever best advocates universal health care and poverty reduction -- or buys him a jet ski.

"I will only support the candidate who promises to make me a spy. That would be so cool," Edwards said, offering to go on one mission a month "some place awesome like Prague or a moon base. But I will accept Tahiti or the Riviera."