You da Man!

By Melissa August, Val Castronovo, Fiona Carruthers, Matthew Cooper, Daniel Levy, Ellin Martens, Julie Rawe and Josh Tyrangiel

Batman had Robin. Johnny had Ed. Every Alpha needs a Beta, especially on the ego-crushing gauntlet known as the presidential race. Here's a look at those tireless bundles of hype and positive energy, the Campaign 2000 sidekicks:

CANDIDATE: Al Gore SIDEKICK: Karenna Gore Schiff, daughter, mother, law student, young person BLANDLY OBSEQUIOUS QUOTE: "He won't let you down." PREVIOUS SIDEKICK EXPERIENCE: Editorial assistant, Slate.com WHAT'S IN IT FOR HER: Sheds Chelsea complex MODEL TV DUO: Captain Stubing and Vicki

CANDIDATE: John McCain SIDEKICK: Fred Thompson, Senator, actor BLANDLY OBSEQUIOUS QUOTE: "He really is one of the few heroes I know." PREVIOUS SIDEKICK EXPERIENCE: Secondary roles in movies, among them The Hunt for Red October and In the Line of Fire WHAT'S IN IT FOR HIM: Cabinet position MODEL TV DUO: Bo and Luke Duke

CANDIDATE: George W. Bush SIDEKICK: George H.W. Bush, former President BLANDLY OBSEQUIOUS QUOTE: "This boy, this son of ours, is not going to let you down. He is going to go all the way." PREVIOUS SIDEKICK EXPERIENCE: Vice President, Reagan Administration, 1981-89 WHAT'S IN IT FOR HIM: Vengeance MODEL TV DUO: Andy Taylor and Opie

CANDIDATE: Bill Bradley SIDEKICK: Bob Kerrey, Nebraska Senator BLANDLY OBSEQUIOUS QUOTE: "All politicians aren't the same. Bill Bradley is different." PREVIOUS SIDEKICK EXPERIENCE: Five years as Senate intelligence committee vice chairman WHAT'S IN IT FOR HIM: Dislikes Clinton, dislikes Gore, likes Knicks tickets MODEL TV DUO: Hawkeye Pierce and B.J. Hunnicutt