The Campaign Season's Dog Days

The latest angle on the presidential race: Which pooch will roam the halls of the White House?

The two candidates have swapped positions on pets. John McCain is . . . well, liberal, with a household of 24 animals: four dogs (English springer spaniel Sam, mini Yorkies Desi and Lucy and mixed-breed Coco), Oreo the cat, turtles, birds and several fish. (The family ferret, alas, died.) The pets hang out at McCain's Arizona ranch.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, is decidedly conservative on the subject. After much begging from daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, the candidate promised they could finally get their first dog after the election -- win or lose -- sometime next spring. "The girls have started their own research, but no decisions have been made," said campaign spokesman Nick Shapiro."They haven't had a dog before because of allergies, which is why this is such a big deal."

On Wednesday, the American Kennel Club posted a puppy poll to assist the girls' hunt. "The first rule when deciding to get a dog is making sure you pick the right breed for your lifestyle," said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. AKC experts picked kid-friendly breeds with outgoing personalities, then narrowed it to five "sneeze-free" finalists: bichon frise, poodle, soft-coated Wheaten terrier, miniature schnauzer and Chinese crested. Yes, a hairless crested won an "ugliest dog" contest recently, said Peterson, but "I think all breeds are beautiful."

The public has until Aug. 19 to cast ballots; then the results will be forwarded to the Obama camp for puppy vetting. (Will Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder weigh in?) Peterson told us yesterday that she voted for the Wheaten terrier: "I picked that one because I like the personality, their color and their size -- they're very sturdy and compact."

But any dog can be a great First Pet -- think Barney and Miss Beazley-- if properly socialized, she said. "If it's exposed to a variety of people and places, they'll be fine with all of it."

A Birthday Par Excellence

President Bush will celebrate his 62nd birthday, his last in the White House, tonight. His actual birthday is Sunday (he'll be in Japan for the G-8 summit), so Laura Bush has invited family and friends for the traditional Fourth of July celebration-- which doubles as a party for the president. Lucky guests can count on cake, watching fireworks from the primo vantage of the White House roof, and tips from the likes of Davis Love III , Fred Couples, Fred Funk and other golfers in town for the AT&T National.

HEY, ISN'T THAT . . . ?

· Laura Bush at "The Lion King" at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday night. The first lady was joined by daughter Jenna and six friends in the president's box for the sold-out performance.

· Joan and Melissa Rivers at the National Air and Space Museum yesterday -- Day 2 of their D.C. vay-cay. The comedian (white shirt, gold necklace, black pants), her daughter (black-and-white striped tank dress) and grandson took a two-hour tour with curator Bob van der Linden.

LOVE, ETC.

· Split?: Alex Rodriguez and his wife of five years, Cynthia, report the New York tabs. News of the alleged breakup fueled even more rumors about the Yankee slugger and his alleged late-night visits with Madonna ("just friends," said her rep), while the singer is denying her marriage to director Guy Ritchie is kaput. Rocker Lenny Kravitz weighed in yesterday, saying he wasn't having an affair with A-Rod's spouse, although he's allowing her to stay in his Paris home as a "friend" to get away from all the bad vibes in New York. Got that all straight?

· Testifying: Christie Brinkley yesterday, at her sensational divorce trial pitting her against skeevy soon-to-be-ex fourth husband Peter Cook. The 54-year-old former supermodel described falling apart after she learned Cook slept with a teenage assistant, paid her more than $300,000, was obsessed with porn, and posted nude pictures of himself on adult Web sites seeking sex. "Beyond humiliating, it was beyond your wildest nightmare," she said.