I think if we examine how our two presidential candidates would fare against each other in contests other than a national election, we can gain insight about both men, and we might also be able to predict who will win it all in November.

Let's start with Monopoly. I think any politician would love this game, especially because it has a handy "Get Out of Jail Free" card. But that aside, who would win a Monopoly showdown between McCain and Obama?

I have to say John McCain would win hands down. That's because the game of Monopoly is based on the very fundamentals of capitalism. In Monopoly, there are no government rent control programs, no federal regulation of mortgages - it's just the consumer pitted against the real estate owners, may the best wheeler-dealer win.

We know that McCain is a big fan of a very basic kind of free market capitalism, espousing as little government regulation as possible. That's the way the game of Monopoly is set up.

Also, we all know the media has reported that McCain owns seven houses, although Jake Tapper of ABC News says he owns nine. So we know that McCain has a lot of experience both in owning a lot of homes and in real estate speculation.

Obama, on the other hand, owns only one home, although that home is worth about $1 million, and his former Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton says he bought his home with the help of a Chicago "slum lord."

Be that as it may, Obama is much more likely to favor government regulated housing programs. Obama is the kind of guy who would like to make housing as affordable as possible to as many people, including people of small financial means. He would like everyone to own a nice home, and pay a reasonable price.

McCain basically wants that, too, but he thinks the best way for everyone to have a nice home is to let the free market work it's magic. Of course, Obama would point out that the current meltdown of the housing industry, which is causing untold economic pain and misery, probably happened because of too little or lax government oversight of the mortgage industry.

Whatever - McCain wins Monopoly because the game is naturally rigged in his favor.

What about a good old-fashioned barbeque sauce contest or a chili cook-off at a local county fair? I originally thought this could be advantage McCain. But that's only because I can easily picture the avuncular McCain wearing one of those "Kiss the Cook" white aprons, standing over a steaming grill, perhaps chomping on a cigar as he whips up a batch of some real butt-kicking, spicy sauce and slathering it on a hunk of meat.

On further thought, however, I think Obama would prevail in a chili cook-off because when you examine his background, he's probably really not the elitist "Latte Liberal" that his opponents would like to paint him as.

Let's face it, Obama grew up in rather modest, if not humble circumstances, being raised largely by his grandparents. I'll bet Obama enjoyed many a rib-stickin' meal of, say, meat loaf, mashed potatoes with butter and green beans in his day. He probably helped out in the kitchen a lot, and being raised by a grandmother, I think he probably learned a thing or two about cooking.

So I think Obama could easily whip up a pot of chili - I just don't think McCain, who was born in Panama to a naval officer who later became an admiral, would be as exposed to basic home cooking like Obama was.

McCain's lifetime exposure to food was probably a combination of the rotten food one eats while in military service, and perhaps the finer foods afforded to person of high military rank.

And, interestingly, we have real evidence that McCain's mother was a lousy cook. A military fitness report in 1934 said her admiral-to-be husband was high-strung and underweight - so underweight, he was being treated for weight loss at a naval hospital.

The senior McCain blamed his new wife's cooking, or lack of it. Said the admiral: "My wife doesn't know how to cook, and my meals are very irregular," in response to his less-than-stellar fitness report.

So it's clear in the chili cook-off: Advantage Obama.

What about a night of poker, - McCain vs. Obama - going mano a mano in five-card stud or Texas hold'em? In poker, I easily give the nod to McCain.

If McCain's recent selection of little-known Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin to be his V.P. running mate was not an example of an extremely bold gamble, I don't know what is. Compare it to Obama's selection of well-vetted and well-known Sen. Joe Biden, a 32-year veteran of Congress.

McCain was a gutsy - and some say reckless - pilot, by many accounts. He crashed five aircraft during his career as a Naval aviator, once getting shot down over Vietnam.

Is there anything in Obama's life or career that can be said to be comparable to McCain's often brash and bold behavior, and his famous "maverick" persona? I can't think of a single thing. Obama is a hard worker, a plodder, a studier, and I understand he likes to ask a 1,000 questions about something before he makes a decision about it. That won't work in poker.

So in five-card-stud: Advantage McCain.

Here's a few other competitions and my pick for who would win:

High school science project: Advantage McCain.

High school essay contest: Advantage Obama.

Horseshoe toss: Advantage McCain.

100-yard dash: Advantage Obama.

Interior home design contest: A tie.

Watermelon seed spitting contest: Again, a tie.

And finally, who would win in a debate on politics between McCain and Obama? Well, we should find out soon enough. Unlike all of the above, that contest is really going happen and we'll all get to watch it on TV.