Lowden, McCains in Vietnam in 1971

Almost four decades after a round-the-word tour with Bob Hope, Sue Lowden came away from a conversation with John McCain convinced it truly is a small world.

McCain was in Las Vegas a year ago as the keynote speaker for the Clark County Lincoln Day Dinner.

"I introduced myself as the chairwoman of the state Republicans," Lowden said.

Aware that McCain was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, Lowden mentioned she was in Da Nang on Christmas Day 1971 performing a USO show with Hope.

"Why didn't you come and get me?" said McCain, alluding to his 51/2 years of captivity.

Then he added, "My father was at the show."

"He was in the front row," said Lowden, 18 at the time.

McCain's father was John S. McCain Jr., a four-star admiral and head of the Pacific Fleet during the Vietnam War.

Lowden still has a photo of herself in white go-go boots and hot pants with Hope while on the tour.

The troupe turned out to be replacements for the Gold Diggers, a sexy, scantily clad group of dancers and singers who worked with Dean Martin and toured with Hope.

Two years later, when McCain was released with other POWs, Lowden, entered under her maiden name of Plummer, competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss New Jersey and later landed in Las Vegas as a reporter at KLAS-TV, Channel 8, where she became an anchor.

McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is returning to Las Vegas this month.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

A buyout involving several Pure Management Group partners is in motion, with some high-profile investors distancing themselves in the aftermath of the February Internal Revenue Service raid, sources tell me. ...

It's an all-Vegas lineup this week when David Letterman welcomes Lance Burton, Mac King, Dirk Arthur, Steve Wyrick and Penn & Teller to "Late Show Magician Week." Burton is on Monday, King on Tuesday, Arthur on Wednesday, Wyrick on Thursday and Penn & Teller on Friday.

SIGHTINGS

Actor Antonio Banderas and actress Melanie Griffith, attending the 10 p.m. performance of Cirque du Soleil's, "Love," with a group of 10 people, including Dakota Johnson and Stella Banderas, at The Mirage. ... Boxing legend Joe Frazier, dining Friday at Company American Bistro (Luxor). ... Steve Schirripa of "The Sopranos," hosting the 40th birthday bash Saturday of casino host Richard Wilk at the Hard Rock Hotel. ... Boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., pulling up with his entourage to the Planet Hollywood Resort valet in a brand new red Ferrari, along with a yellow Ferrari and black Rolls Royce Phantom before heading inside to visit Privé nightclub. Also at Privé: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and former Las Vegas Gladiators quarterback Shaun King. ... Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman, dining Friday at Nove Italiano restaurant (Palms). Later he was at Pure nightclub (Caesars Palace). ... Former motocross star Carey Hart, checking out Tryst nightclub (Wynn) on Friday. ... ESPN's Pedro Gomez, checking out Moon nightclub (Palms) on Friday. ... Rapper Biz Markie, hosting the evening Friday at Rain nightclub (Palms). Also at Rain: Motocross stars Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana and Nate Adams. ... Star chefs Todd English, Paul Bartolotta and Francois Payard, and Cat Cora, on NBC's "Today" show Friday to promote Vegas Uncork'd: A Bon Appetit Epicurean Experience here May 8-11. ... "Top Chef" runner-up Marcel Vigneron, at the midnight show of X Burlesque at the Flamingo last night after attending the epicurean affair.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Chinese officials held a ceremony to announce that it's exactly 100 days until the Summer Olympics and they're working hard to clean up Beijing's pollution. Unfortunately, they had to cut the ceremony short -- because the air caught on fire." -- Conan O'Brien

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.