Candidates marry sports and politics

Well, you could see this coming.

With the New England Patriots spying scandal and the Red Sox-Yankees series both making headlines, it was only a matter of time before the presidential candidates tried to piggyback.

Today -- the day after the NFL slapped the Pats and coach Bill Belichick for illegally videotaping New York Jets coaches giving signals -- Democrat Bill Richardson used the episode to bash President Bush over domestic spying.

"The President has been allowed to spy on Americans without a warrant,and our US Senate is letting it continue. You know something is wrong when the New England Patriots face stiffer penalties for spying on innocent Americans than Dick Cheney and George Bush," the New Mexico governor said in a statement issued while campaigning in Iowa.

His campaign spokesman Pahl Shipley elaborated, saying in an email, "The Governor used this opportunity, and a bit of irony, to make a serious point about the President and Vice President authorizing and supporting the government's use of domestic surveillance of Americans."

Also today, Democrat Chris Dodd, a big Red Sox fan and Connecticut senator, challenged Richardson to a bet over the Sox-Yankee series, which starts tonight and which could go a long way to deciding who wins the American League East.

"Nothing is more exciting than a Red Sox-Yankees series in September," Dodd said in a statement. "The Governor and I both dreamed about playing center field for our respective teams as children, and although that didn't happen, I know we will be both be watching this series closely, so why not have a little fun with it? I'm willing to wager some authentic New England Clam Chowder against an equitable wager from Governor Richardson, if he's confident enough in his team to accept my challenge."

But Richardson didn't take the bet -- and denied that he was a Yankees fan. A comment Richardson made about wanting to be Mickey Mantle, the legendary Yankees outfielder, was apparently misconstrued to mean he rooted for the pinstripes.

"Governor Richardson is a devoted Red Sox fan, and has been since his days playing ball in Massachusetts in high school, college, and in the Cape Cod League." Shipley said in a statement.

But wait, it gets curiouser.

The Dodd campaign points to an appearance that Richardson made on NBC's "Meet the Press" in May in which he says, "I'm a Red Sox fan," then quickly adds, "I'm also a Yankee fan."

" 'Devoted' Red Sox fans wouldn't be caught dead saying that they were "also a Yankee's fan,' " said Bryan DeAngelis, a Dodd campaign spokesman.

On "Meet the Press," Richardson tried to wriggle out of the rundown, telling host Tim Russert, "I mean, this is the thing about me, Tim. I can bring people together. I can unify people."

"Yankee fans and Red Sox fans?" Russert asked.

"Yes," Richardson replied.

"Not a chance," Russert said.

"Well, I bet you I can," Richardson said.

But he won't be betting on this weekend's games.