TRAIL MIX

Pigskin Politics

Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore found themselves in rare agreement Sunday when it came to their rooting interests in the Super Bowl. But even then, the cut-and-thrust of politics inevitably intruded.

Earlier in the week, Bush spokeswoman Karen Hughes said the Texas governor would be pulling for the “Houston Oilers� in the big game, a reference to the former home of the Tennessee Titans. Sunday evening, as Gore settled down to watch the team now representing his home state, he couldn’t resist taking Bush to task.

“If he’s rooting for the Houston Oilers, that’s typical of living in the past,� the vice president said.

G-W Loves Special Sauce

Eddie Deen, the Dallas caterer who cooked for both of George W. Bush’s inaugurations as Texas governor, drove 35 hours to get to New Hampshire so he could cook pork ribs, hot dogs, sausages, brisket, potato salad and chili for the crowd at a Super Bowl Party that Bush hosted. Deen says his barbecue stands out because he is a scientist. “I try to understand the molecular make-up, the physical makeup of the protein molecules; about what happens in the instantaneous moments of cooking.�

Crimson Tide Has Turned

All the snow aside, it is especially cold in Cambridge, Mass. for Al Gore. The student-run newspaper at Gore’s alma mater, Harvard, has endorsed a Princeton man--Bill Bradley.

Even then, the Harvard Crimson editors bemoaned the fact there are not more Democrats in the race. The newspaper expressed disappointment at having to choose between “two tall, balding, politically moderate, Ivy-educated white men.� Despite their leftward leanings, Harvard’s undergrads lavished praise on Republican candidate John McCain, a Naval Academy grad. They also dubbed Republican George W. Bush, a graduate of the Harvard Business School, to be an “intellectual lightweight and financial Mighty Mouse.�

The Lincoln Log

To look at the candidates’ schedules, one would think that every day is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Though Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, 1809, that hasn’t stopped Republicans campaigning in New Hampshire from feting America’s 16th president all week at breakfasts, brunches, receptions and dinners. George W. Bush attended four Lincoln Day events in three days, one of which also drew Gary Bauer, Steve Forbes and Alan Keyes.

Forbes Not Yet Unkempt

The day after Jack Kemp, a longtime advisor to Steve Forbes, snubbed his pal by endorsing George W. Bush, Kemp’s book “The IRS vs. The People� was still on display at Forbes’ Manchester, N.H., headquarters.

By the Numbers

485: Verbal SAT score of Bill Bradley

566: Verbal SAT score of George W. Bush

QUOTE FILE

“There’s no way Cindy and I can ever repay the people of Massachusetts.� --John McCain, temporarily forgetting Friday that he and his wife were campaigning in New Hampshire

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Compiled by Massie Ritsch and Jacqueline A. Newmyer, in Manchester, N.H., from Times staff and wire reports.