When it comes to baseball, Obama keeps the bases covered

Go White Sox, go Phillies, go Rays

TAMPA - Thanks senator, Sox fans really needed a reminder.

Campaigning yesterday where Red Sox fans' hearts were broken Sunday night in a season-ending Game 7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, Barack Obama chose a half-dozen Rays players to introduce him, including relief pitcher David Price, who shut down the Sox in the late innings.

The players helped Obama make a pitch for early voting, which began yesterday in Florida.

"Give it up for the Rays!" Obama said to cheers after high-fiving and hugging them.

"I have said from the beginning that I am a unity candidate, bringing people together," Obama said. "So when you see a White Sox fan showing love to the Rays, and the Rays showing some love back, you know we're onto something right here."

He was careful, though, not to necessarily endorse the Rays in the World Series against Philadelphia.

It's easy to understand why: The Phillies, too, hail from an important swing state, Pennsylvania.

Republicans tried to argue that Obama has flip-flopped on his baseball loyalties, noting that he said in Philadelphia last week, "I am a White Sox fan, but since the White Sox are out of it, I'll root for the Phillies now."

SCOTT HELMAN