Updated

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Switching Sides

The New York tabloids are in full cry over Rudy Giuliani's announcement that he is pulling for the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. Giuliani says he is simply rooting for the team from the American league, home of his beloved Yankees.

But Yankee fans have little use for the rival Red Sox and the cover of the New York Daily News calls Giuliani a "traitor," and inside refers to him as "the Yankee flipper." It suggests the former mayor is just pandering to New Hampshire primary voters — located in a major precinct of "Red Sox Nation."

The New York Post features a photo-shopped cover of Giuliani in Red Sox attire — calling him "red coat." Inside it calls him "Judas Giuliani."

Tight Fisted

Several conservative congressional Democrats have refused to give money to the party's campaign committee during the past several months — because of tensions with anti-war Democrats.

The Politico newspaper reports many of the so-called "Blue Dog Democrats" are still upset with a statement from California Democrat Lynn Woolsey last summer. Woolsey encouraged anti-war groups to field primary challengers against fellow Democrats who did not vote to end the war.

Other Dems who have not given to the campaign fund site the need for cash in their own hotly-contested races. But some who are sitting on huge campaign war chests are still refusing to pony up.

Legal Fees

Federal Election Commission records indicate Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig has used $23,000 in campaign funds to pay for a top lawyer to make his case before the Senate Ethics Committee. Craig's office tells The Politico newspaper that the senator will use his campaign committee funds —which total about $475,000 — to help pay for his criminal defense as well.

Craig pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct following a men's restroom sex sting at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport last summer. Taking campaign funds for personal use is against the law. But Craig will try to link his legal fight in Minnesota to his work as a senator.

Close Encounter

Actress Shirley MacLaine says Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich saw a UFO while visiting her home in Graham, Washington.

She writes — "Dennis found his encounter extremely moving. The smell of roses drew him out to my balcony where, when he looked up, he saw a gigantic triangular craft, silent, and observing him. It hovered, soundless, for 10 minutes or so, and sped away with a speed he couldn't comprehend. He said he felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind."

So far the Kucinich campaign has not responded to our request for a comment. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports MacLaine also writes that she advised Kucinich to visit a New Mexico spiritual adviser who had helped her communicate with trees. Kucinich did visit the woman — whom he has described as a teacher and good friend but not a spiritual adviser.

FOX News Channel's Martin Hill contributed to this report.