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Need a shot of politics with your morning caffeine? Well, 7-Eleven has launched its "7-Election" campaign, letting customers "vote" by picking the coffee cup of their choice: John McCain or Barack Obama.

Nationally, Obama is the preferred cup — he's leading 60 percent to 40 percent. And in the 33 states where the red and blue cups are available, the majority of customers are sipping on Obama in all but two places: New Hampshire and North Carolina.

Even in McCain's home state of Arizona, Obama is the choice of 57 percent of 7-Eleven coffee drinkers.

The convenience-store company, which sells 1 million cups of joe every day, says its 2004 sales mirrored the election results, even in some specific states.

The real question is which candidate's coffee is stronger — and which is sweeter.

Forty-four years after his dad ran as the Republican presidential nominee, Barry Goldwater Jr. has landed on a national ticket.

Goldwater, a former California congressman, will be listed this November as the running mate of Ron Paul on Louisiana ballots.

Paul, of course, lost his bid for the Republican presidential nomination early this year. And Goldwater made news for endorsing Paul — rather than McCain, the occupant of his late father's seat in the U.S. Senate.

Since losing, Paul has resisted appeals both to endorse McCain and to run a third-party candidacy. Goldwater, meanwhile, now supports McCain.

But those realities didn't stop a group of electors calling themselves the "Louisiana Taxpayers Party" from putting Paul's name on the ballot there, along with Goldwater as his VP pick.

The man who started the movement, Louisiana's Trent Hill, told Reason Magazine in a recent interview that Goldwater was asked at a rally to be on the ballot, and agreed.

But Goldwater tells Notebook he was never asked — but that's OK.

"It's kinda fun, running for vice president of the United States," Goldwater joked. Except there's one big difference: "I don't have to tell any lies like politicians have to."

Last week, Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall raised some eyebrows when she admitted an endorsement on her Web site didn't actually come from Tucson Police Chief Kermit Miller.

LaWall explained many politicians make up quotes and then ask officials if it's OK to attribute the quote to them. In this instance, she said, the "endorsement" was posted before she got Miller's permission.

As it turns out, Miller says it's inappropriate for a police chief to endorse anyone for any office.

This week, retired Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. Ed Schlecta has expressed surprise at finding out he, too, has "endorsed" LaWall.

His name is listed under "other community leaders" on her endorsement page.

Schlecta said he endorsed LaWall in 2004, but decided not to endorse anyone this year since he feels somewhat out of touch. He retired in July 2006.

"I don't appreciate my name being used when I've not been asked," Schlecta said. "It makes me uncomfortable. Just because I endorsed her one year doesn't mean it's a blanket endorsement for all time."

If you're looking for something different — maybe even a little political — to do with that pumpkin this Halloween, visit go.azstarnet.com/pumpkinpatterns. The Star has downloadable pumpkin stencils of McCain, Obama, Sarah Palin, Joe Biden and more.

● Contact reporter Daniel Scarpinato at 307-4339 or dscarpinato@azstarnet.com.

Daniel Scarpinato