Hillary Clinton appeared on Saturday Night Live this weekend after their introductory skit parodying the latest Democratic debate. It featured SNL cast members Amy Poehler as Clinton and Fred Armisen as Obama. Vincent D’Onofrio of Law & Order: Criminal Intent made a cameo to interrogate Poehler.

The skit tried to portray how the press softballs Obama while giving Clinton a hard time. It wasn’t hysterically funny, but I found it pretty amusing.

Clinton came on after the skit, and was introduced as “An Editorial Response.” She said:
“The scene you just saw was a re-enactment, sort of, of last Tuesday’s debate, and not an endorsement of one candidate over another. I can say this confidently, because when I asked if I could take it as an endorsement, I was told ‘absolutely not,’ but I still enjoyed that sketch a great deal, because I simply adore Amy’s impression of me.”

At that point Poehler entered wearing the same outfit as Senator Clinton, saying “My ears are ringing.”

Clinton and Poehler complimented each other’s outfits, with Clinton telling Poehler “I want the earrings back.” Poehler laughed hysterically and Clinton asked “Do I really laugh like that?”

Poehler asked “How’s the campaign going?” Clinton said “The campaign is going very well. Very very well. Why what did you hear?”

She then said she was just going to relax and didn’t want to talk politics, but then made a joking reference to the upcoming primaries saying “I would like to take this opportunity to say to all Americans, be they from the great state of Ohio or Texas, Rhode Island or Vermont, Pennsylvania or any of the other states, ‘Live from New York it’s Saturday Night!'”

Here’s the full skit followed by Clinton’s appearance.

And here’s just Clinton’s appearance.

Senator Clinton told her supporters last Monday to watch Saturday Night Live to see a skit they did last weekend about how the press gives her a hard time while fawning over Obama. She used it as an example of how the media tide was turning in her favor.

The state primaries determine by popular vote which Democratic party delegates representing a state will vote for a candidate at the National Convention in August. These are called “pledged delegates,” because they have pledged to vote according to the popular vote in the primary election. Clinton trails Obama in total Democratic delegate votes based on primaries held in January and February. Upcoming primary elections in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont on Tuesday are very close and hard to call.

There are more superdelegates, or upper-level Democratic party delegates, who are thought to support Clinton, and their votes can nullify the popular vote of party members. Unlike most other delegates, who are pledged, they are not required to vote according to the popular vote in their respective states. Clinton has drawn criticism for urging the superdelegates to disregard the popular vote and support her candidacy in place of Obama. It is thought that this strategy may backfire on her, and that her chances at securing the Democratic nomination are dwindling as Obama’s star rises.

The primaries on Tuesday have been described as “make-or-break” for Clinton, which can explain why she made an appearance on Saturday Night Live. She came across as good-natured and willing to poke fun at herself, but it may be too little too late for Clinton. We’ll have to see how she fares on Tuesday.

Clinton is shown on 1/18/08 at a rally in Henderson, Nevada thanks to PRPhotos.