Comedy rules. Of all the Dome posts this election season, a humorous video of director Ron Howard's endorsement of Barack Obama got the most views.

Back in the primary, readers were looking for any signs of whether Hillary Clinton or Obama would prevail and posts about a superdelegate and then two Congressmen endorsing Obama made the top 10.

Other hot items included what then-Sen. John Edwards said about President Clinton during the impeachment hearings and coverage of the Godless Americans ad in the race for U.S. Senate. 

1. Opie and Andy on Obama

2. Council backs Obama

3. John Edwards in 1999

4. Dole lawyers: godless ad is truthful

5. Greensboro reporter assaulted at rally

6. Hagan's country club troubles

7. Dole has second TV ad on Godless Americans

8. NAACP condemns Obama casket

9. Price, Watt endorse Obama

10. Edwards won't return to UNC center   

Some folks in Mayberry are unhappy with Sheriff Taylor.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that some residents of Mount Airy, the hometown of actor Andy Griffith and inspiration for the fictional town of his T.V. show, did not cotton to a recent video showing him and Ron Howard endorsing Barack Obama.

Some folks, though, don't like to see the actors from their old favorite show taking sides in real-life politics.

"A lot of people are surprised at him, and disappointed, too," Russell Hiatt, who runs Floyd's City Barber Shop on Main Street, said about Griffith.

"Everybody's high on Andy."

But he said he wasn't shocked by Howard doing the skit.

"I'm not surprised with Opie at all," Hiatt said. "He hasn't ever even come here to Mount Airy."

Anothr Mayberry — er, Mount Airy — resident tells the newspaper that she understands why the two would endorse in character.

"Everyone relates to Andy and Opie," she says.

Ron Howard says Barack Obama represents the Mayberry spirit.

In a phone interview with Dome, the former "Andy Griffith Show" actor and Hollywood director said that he decided to use his past to make a Web video for Obama because this election is "a really crucial moment" for Americans.

"I've never done anything like it at all," he said. "(I've) never been outspokenly supportive. Once in a while, might answer the question honestly if someone put it to me in the past, and sometimes I avoid it. But I had this idea."

He said he mentioned it to producer Judd Apatow, who referred him to Adam McKay, cofounder of the "Funny or Die" Web site. McKay and a group of writers drafted the script, while Howard talked Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler.

"I knew that Andy was a Democrat, but I wasn't even sure how he stood on the presidential race because we hadn't talked in months and months," he said. "When I broached the subject, he was excited."

Griffith's part was filmed in the woods near his Manteo home, while Howard took time off from shooting "Angels and Demons" to film his on a Los Angeles backlot. The two were brought together with special effects.

Putting on a striped shirt and hairpiece, Howard said "definitely took me back."

For audio of the interview, click here. 

More after the jump.

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Can Andy Griffith engineer a "Mayberry Miracle" for Barack Obama?

The legendary TV actor has long been known to lend his name to North Carolina Democratic candidates, most notably helping turn the tide for Gov. Mike Easley in 2000. 

This year, he's reprising his role as Sheriff Taylor for a Web video on "Funny or Die," a humor site run by comedian Will Ferrell.

In the video, director Ron Howard shaves his beard and puts on a hairpiece and a striped T-shirt to play Opie, asking Griffith about the upcoming election. 

Opie: Pa, why are people so set on staying on the same road that's been messing us up for so long?

Andy: Well, Ope, people are funny. Sometimes change scares them and they'd rather keep doing the same ol' thing that's been messing them up than change to the thing that can help them.

Opie: Like the time I wanted to fish for lake trout using peanut butter and jelly as bait?  

Howard then says he hopes to "vote for somebody as good as Mr. Obama" when he grows up.

"If you stay healthy and strong, avoid any felonies, stay away from the butterfly ballot, I'll bet you'll get a chance," Griffith replies.

A video on "Funny or Die" features director Ron Howard and actor Andy Griffith reprising their roles from "The Andy Griffith Show" to endorse Barack Obama.

Hat Tip: Isaac 136