Election’s Final Score in October?

A 72-year streak links the victory or defeat of the Washington Redskins on the eve of election day with the presidential race. If the Redskins go down to defeat or tie, the sitting president’s party loses the White House.

That leaves the fate of President Bush squarely on the shoulders of Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs. Hometown hero Gibbs, who led the team to three Super Bowl titles, retired after the 1992 season and now has returned to the team’s helm.

The Redskins face off against the Green Bay Packers at FedEx Field on Oct. 31 -- the last game before the election Nov. 2.

“Like President Bush, the Packers have a record of being strong on defense,” Bush campaign regional secretary Merrill Hughes Smith told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “Thank goodness Joe Gibbs is back!”

The Redskins’ performance has aligned with the presidential outcome in the last 18 elections -- a probability of 1 in 263.5 million, according to Dave Dolan, an assistant professor of statistics at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

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Speaking of Sharpton

The Rev. Al Sharpton still has something to say. The wisecracking erstwhile Democratic presidential candidate and activist may speak at the Democratic National Convention this July in Boston -- at Sen. John F. Kerry’s invitation.

Kerry offered a speaking slot to Sharpton during a taped interview Thursday with Black Entertainment Television.

“If he wants to do it, I’d like him to do it,” Kerry told BET news anchor Jacque Reid.

“I think he’d do a terrific job.... It’s my invitation.”

“He certainly earned the right to be part of this process, and I think he can be very, very helpful in motivating people, in helping to register people.”

The two-part Kerry interview will air on BET at 11 p.m. PST on Monday and Tuesday.

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Who’s Counting?

$6.5 million: Amount former Vice President Al Gore is donating to Democrats from leftover campaign funds.

$49 million: Amount Gore raised through July 31, 2000, during his presidential bid.

66: Teresa Heinz Kerry’s age by Inauguration Day 2005, making her the oldest first lady in history if her husband, John F. Kerry, wins the election.

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Duly Quoted

“In my family, I was the one born with the chunky genes.... I was also born with a good set of political genes. Because of my enthusiasm for John Kerry’s campaign, the political genes are keeping the chunky genes in check.” -- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), speaking in Wednesday’s Boston Globe about the 40 pounds he has lost.

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Compiled from staff, Web and wire reports by Times staff researcher Susannah Rosenblatt.