John McCain seems to have scored with a new ad suggesting that his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, is a lightweight celebrity like Paris Hilton, and recent polling suggests why.

Americans don't have much use for celebrities these days. They think they're overpaid and undertalented, and don't care to read too much about them either.

But then they think the job McCain and Obama are seeking is overpaid, too.

A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that only 3% think celebrities should receive the high salaries they’re paid. An identical number (3%) feel that way about professional athletes, many of whom qualify as celebrities themselves. Look at Alex Rodriguez, the baseball star caught up recently in an alleged tryst with Madonna.

A plurality (44%) of adults think teachers should get paid the most. This is perhaps not surprising considering that only a few months ago, 64% said that being a teacher is one of the most important jobs in America.

Doctors are next: 21% think they should be the highest paid. This number tracks closely with the percentage of Americans who think the U.S. health care system is good or excellent. More than two-thirds don’t, although they like their health insurance coverage.

Then there’s the president of the United States. Just 11% believe the commander-in-chief should be the highest paid. President Bush’s record low job approval ratings probably aren’t helping, though.

Americans don’t cut celebrity actors and actresses much slack in the talent department either. Nearly half (48%) say that most only become famous because of their looks. Just 27% think they made it because of their actual acting ability.

Even though news about celebrities seems almost unavoidable, most adults (84%) say they don’t follow that stuff closely or even at all. Only 15% say they track celebrity news closely.

A separate Rasmussen Reports survey found that only 5% say celebrity gossip is the first thing they read. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say they read local news first; 19% start with national news, and 14% choose politics as their first read.

The majority of adults say they trust reporters (65%) far more than the paparazzi (2%) when it comes to the news. The paparazzi, generally gossip-seeking photographers, are criticized constantly for hounding celebrities, but many make a lot of money in the process. It was even suggested for some time that they had something to do with Princess Diana’s death, although the legal authorities rejected that.

Not that reporters fare much better. Seventy-one percent (71%) now believe reporters try to help the candidate they want to win, while only 16% offer unbiased coverage. Most voters also think reporters these days are trying to help Obama – celebrity or not – make it to the White House.

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