Democratic strategist/CNN political contributor James Carville admits to loving Miracle Whip in this commercial. In another recent spot, Carville says he loves the funky spread, but his wife hates it, then asks

Does that surprise anybody?

To me Carville doing an ad for Miracle Whip is weirder than Bob Dole pitching for Viagra, especially because MW is aiming for a younger demographic; last year Kraft paid to have their spread/dressing/weird glop appear in a Lady Gaga video.

But putting in Carville in the commercial was kinda like this year’s Oscar broadcast; while aiming for a younger demographic, they missed completely,  diving into a generational abyss: While some Gen-Y’s may know  Carville from CNN, how many were paying attention during the 1990 election cycle’s Romeo and Juliet tinged Clinton campaign courtship between Carville and Matalin?

Is having Carville in the ads–which feature hip, kinda nerdy 20-somethings–an attempt to hook those in the 40+ age range through a flash of recognition and then get them to subconsciously believe that caring about Miracle Whip could make them all young and cool and stuff?

Or is the debate about Miracle Whip some huge issue of meta-importance? And did the ad work because I am writing about a food stuff I don’t keep in the house–nor do I entertain its cousin mayonnaise. If I have to make something with the latter, like once-a-year potato salad or deviled eggs, I buy the smallest jar I can find, then dump the what’s left because otherwise its remains will eventually funkify in the back of the fridge taking up valuable space meant for Piper Heidsieck, eiswein, cherries and leftover pizza.