TRAIL MIX

Map mishap

Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore’s daughter experienced a bout of what could be called “fuzzy geography” Monday at a Washington state campaign rally, stumbling over a state capital lesson she said her father helped her learn.

Harvard alumna Kristin Gore, 23, said at an Everett rally for Gore that her father had helped her in many areas of her childhood--comforting her when her dog died, attending her soccer games and helping her memorize names of The Beatles’ albums “in chronological order.”

“He also was the guy who helped me study for my third-grade state capital quiz--Seattle, I got it down,” she said, clearly startling the large crowd. The capital of Washington is Olympia.

Both Gores let the error slide. “More importantly,” than the other lessons, Kristin Gore said, “he and my mother have taught my sisters and my brother and me the value of public service.”

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Stranded

The near-iconic image of former First Lady Barbara Bush is a mix of her matronly bearing and, of course, her trademark pearls. So when the Silver Fox recently stepped onto the campaign trail to help elect her son the next president, she had the famed beads at every public appearance. But there was a near-crisis during one national television appearance--a broken strand.

According to Bush campaign officials, Mrs. Bush’s necklace broke just before a live appearance last week on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and, as the clock was ticking down, her handlers scrambled to adjust the unruly strand.

The former first lady nixed the idea of going on the air without them and a frantic effort was launched. When the cameras went on, Bush could still be seen adjusting the jewelry and, ever unflappable, she coolly ad-libbed to the show’s host that she was “still getting dressed.” The pearls held fast during the show.

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Quote file

“Bush and Gore make me want to RALPH!”

--A yard sign in Berkeley, in support of Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader.

Compiled by Massie Ritsch from Times staff and wire reports.