Hizzoner Sees the GOP Facing A Clinton-Obama Ticket

Can you be a Cubs fan and a Yankees fan? Clinton says yes; Trudie Acheatel, above, would probably disagree. (By Scott Olson -- Getty Images)

On the one hand, the Cubs and Yankees are both well-known teams with national and passionate fan bases. But as Xavier University psychology professor Christian End points out, the inherent identities of the two teams are in conflict: the persecutor vs. the persecuted. "The Yankees can focus on their successes -- no one can compete with them," said End, who has studied fan behavior. Cubs fans are riding on a different bandwagon. "You can't question their loyalty," said End. "They stick by their losers."

Sports psychologist John F. Murray, based in Palm Beach, Fla., ticked off a few Cubs-vs.-Yankees discrepancies: "Legacy of the Billy Goat Hex versus the House that Ruth Built. The Collapse of 1969 versus just another -- yawn -- comeback and title. A target-shaped logo that says 'Hit me' versus striking bold pinstripes that say 'I'm hitting you!' " Murray concluded: "Hillary needs to make her mind up. These differences leave no room for political correctness."

Scrambling in Santa Fe

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Although Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) formally announced his retirement only on Thursday, the race to succeed him is rapidly taking shape.

For Republicans, Rep. Heather Wilson is in -- creating (yet another) potential open-seat pickup for House Democrats. Rep. Steve Pearce met with National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign (R-Nev.) late last week and is currently on a family vacation during which he is expected to make up his mind about a bid.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) has expressed no interest (so far) in a bid, saying Friday: "Being a governor is better than being a senator. But I'm going to win the [presidential] nomination, so this is all academic."

Rep. Tom Udall (D) removed himself from consideration Friday, releasing a statement that cited his desire to accrue seniority in the House as his primary reason for not entering the race.

That leaves Democrats with either Lt. Gov. Diane Denish or Albuquerque Mayor Martin Ch¿vez. Both have expressed interest in the open governor's race in 2010, but an open Senate seat in what looks to be a strong Democratic year may be too tempting to pass up. National Democratic strategists insist both candidates are taking a hard look at the race.

The filing deadline in New Mexico is among the earliest in the country -- Feb. 8, 2008 -- and so the shape of the field will be known sooner rather than later. That would also give Richardson, should his prediction about his bid for the Democratic presidential nod not come to pass, a very narrow window in which to decide about a Senate race as a fallback option.

8 days: Reports detailing the donations and expenditures of all the candidates for president over the past three months are due to the Federal Election Commission. Data junkies -- of which The Fix is one -- can barely contain their glee.

30 days: What once looked like a cakewalk for Ohio state Rep. Bob Latta (R) in the special election to replace the late Rep. Paul Gillmor (R) has turned into a street fight thanks to the Club for Growth. The D.C.-based organization, which prides itself on backing fiscal conservatives, is savaging Latta for allegedly supporting tax increases in the legislature. The likely beneficiary? State Sen. Steve Buehrer (R), the club's endorsed candidate in the contest.