Jennings in no ‘Jeopardy’ of running for public office

No sooner did Ken Jennings win an unprecedented 75 games and $2.5 million on “Jeopardy!,” than he was being approached to run for public office.

“People got in touch with me, and said would you like to run for Congress from Utah?” said the brainy 32-year-old, currently on a 15-city tour to support his book, “Brainiac.” “I’m like, ‘We’ll I’ve been on a game show, how does this make me a viable candidate?’ This is what the system has sunk to?”

Anyhow, he says it’s not for him: “I think I would be very badly suited. ... I have a nerdy approach to it. I like to know the presidents and I like history and branches of government, which state has two senators with the same first name. On that level. But I don’t like the inevitable conflict that comes with getting into some political discussion.”

As for his politics, he said, “I lived in Utah and I was the most liberal guy I knew; now I live in Seattle and maybe I’m the most conservative guy I know.”

Not that he doesn’t love our humble city. His sister lives in Silver Spring, plus, as a trivia person, he doesn’t mind going “to the Smithsonian for the eighth time.”

Trivia fame is a mixed bag, says America’s most famous buff. Everyone wants to stump him, and indeed everyone can, “if you go to some sufficiently obscure, esoteric episode of ‘F Troop’ when you were a kid.”

We couldn’t resist. Herewith, the Yeas and Nays Stump Ken Jennings Trivia Quiz.

Stump Ken Jennings Quiz

1. How many Democrats does Utah send to the U.S. Congress?

Jennings: Just one, Jim Matheson

2. What is the name of the Italian architect who designed the U.S. Capitol?

Jennings: Latrobe

3. Plus or minus 10 feet, how tall is the Washington Monument?

Jennings: 555 feet

4. What father of a U.S. senator coached the Redskins to a Super Bowl?

Jennings: Dan Reeves

5. What is the name of the Georgetown bar that the Bush twins were known to frequent?

Jennings: The Cock and Bull

6. What is a Wonkette?

Jennings: It’s a blogger

7. What is the name of the house where former presidents come to stay?

Jennings: Blair House

8. Since 2004, who are the only two individuals to lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda?

Jennings: Rosa Parks and Reagan

9. With your $2.5 million in earnings, how many congressional salaries could you pay?

Jennings: 32?

10. How many Catholics are on the Supreme Court?

Jennings: Three.

(Answer key: 1. correct; 2. Constantino Brumidi; 3. correct; 4. George Allen; 5. Smith Point; 6. correct; 7. correct; 8. correct; 9. about 15; 10. Five)

VIPs throw fundraiser in B-flat

How’s this for political courage: Singing “I Got You, Babe” in front of the late Sonny Bono’s wife, Rep. Mary Bono, R-Calif.?

That’s what the brave Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and his wife, Dr. Susan Blumenthal, did Wednesday night at a karaoke fundraiser for the child abuse charity, Childhelp.

Kathleen Matthews performed “These Boots Were Made for Walkin’ ” with plenty of sass (to say nothing of plenty of flat), while “Hardball” hubby followed with a growly rendition of “1814.”

Referring to Matthews’ brother, who is running for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, WJLA’s Rebecca Cooper, who helped organize the evening, quipped, “You might have cost him votes with that.”

WJLA’s Kathy Fowler and her husband, Food Network’s Marc Silverstein, set the bar low with their take on “Desperado.”

“Because we’re desperate,” Kathy told us.

“We’re wearing black because we’re mourning the end of a great song,” Marc added.

Stepping into the breach: CNN’s Dana Bash and Lisa Goddard, who got the place up with “Copacabana.”

Childhelp was founded 47 years ago by Yvonne Fedderson and Sara O’Meara. This is the first year they’ve tried celebrity karaoke, but they’re no strangers to celebrity. The two played Ricky and David Nelson’s girlfriends on “Ozzie and Harriet.”

A slim majority ... former leader

If we’re witnessing the second coming of Tom DeLay, it may be because he’s passing on the second helpings.

The former House majority leader was the center of attention at Time Inc.’s party Monday night celebrating new Time Managing Editor Rick Stengel. Most everyone was talking about how good DeLay looked. “He was beaming,” said one partygoer.

It may have been the R & R DeLay has enjoyed since leaving office this summer. But more than likely it was the 25 pounds he shed during the past three months. And he was all too happy to show off his new physique and explain his secret. “All you gotta do is eat less calories,” said Captain Obvious. “Forget these fad diets.

Politicians work the room

2008 hopefuls aplenty came out to David Greggory restaurant Tuesday night to celebrate “The Way To Win: Taking the White House in 2008,” a new, highly anticipated book by ABC News’ Mark Halperin and the Washington Post’s John Harris.

With Washington’s political kingmakers (Grover Norquist, Mary Matalin, Rahm Emanuel, Terry McAuliffe, etc.) and buzz makers and breakers (George Stephanopolous, Adam Nagourney and Charles Gibson) all in the house to celebrate this 2008 playbook, presidential contenders were more than happy to pop in and work the crowd.

In one corner was Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Over there, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Here comes Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. And because every presidential campaign needs a bit of oversight, Karl Rove made an appearance, along with Jay Carson, the spokesman for potential first husband Bill Clinton.

Think Tank

How are Sen. George Allen’s re-election chances looking?

“Allen can win, but he’ll need to find ways to demonstrate that he’s an inclusive candidate interested in connecting with young voters who traditionally have remained outside the political fray.” – Adrian Talbott, GenerationEngage

“On the day in 2009 when the next president is inaugurated, George Allen will still be a senator from Virginia and James Webb will be finishing a new novel about his disillusionment with American political campaigns.”

– John Miller, National Review

“To put it in Allen-speak, ‘N-aturally, n-obody n-eed n-urse n-asty n-otions.

N-evertheless, n-othing n-egates n-egative n-ews.’ ”

– Christy N. Harvey, Center for American Progress