VIDEO: John McCain at Al Smith Dinner - Barack Obama has joked that he is Superman and had been sent to save planet Earth as he joined his Republican rival John McCain at a high-profile political dinner in New York.

Mr McCain joked that he had replaced his team of senior advisers with "Joe the plumber", a key figure in Wednesday night's head-to-head presidential debate, and claimed he could "feel" the support of Mr Obama's former rival Hillary Clinton, who was in the audience.

Both candidates delivered their light-hearted speeches at the annual Al Smith dinner, which raised an estimated £2.3m for a series of Catholic charities.

"Contrary to the rumours you have heard, I was not born in a manger," Mr Obama said.

"I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father, Jor-el, to save the planet Earth."

Mr McCain joked that Democrats had already begun attacking "Joe the plumber", the Ohio man whom he referred to in the final presidential debate, and claimed "that this honest, hardworking small businessman could not possibly have enough income to face a tax increase under the Obama plan".

Mr Obama's plan would mean higher taxes for anyone earning more than £144,280.

"What they don't know is that Joe the plumber recently signed a very lucrative contract with a wealthy couple to handle all the work on all seven of their houses," Mr McCain added, drawing laughter with the reference to his property holdings.

Turning to his rival's former opponent, Mr McCain said: "Even in this room full of proud Manhattan Democrats, I can't shake the feeling that some people here are pulling for me. I'm delighted to see you here tonight, Hillary."

The evening of humour came after the liveliest and most contentious debate between the two men to date and, just 18 days before the election, both candidates closed by complimenting the other.