Here’s something for all you combination political junkies and die-hard Philly sportsfans to start pondering.

Better clear your calendar for Thursday night.

The Phillies will kick things off with Game Two of their National League Divisional Series against the Brewers. Game time at Citizens Bank Park is 6 p.m.

That’s the key here.

If the game runs to form, it will be coming down to crunch time about three hours later.

I can see it now, Brad Lidge is walking to the mound … just as Gov. Sarah Palin is walking onto the stage for her much-anticipated vice presidential debate against Sen. Joe Biden.

That’s right. The VP candidates are set to square at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. It’s slated to begin at 9 p.m.

Palin warmed up for her big moment in the spotlight by hanging around Philly this weekend.

So what do you do, stay with the Phillies or flip over to the debate. Use the remote to click over to Palin vs. Biden in between pitches? Use picture in picture?

I guess that why they invented the VRC, or DVR.

Let’s be optimists. Maybe the Phils don’t even need Lidge. They’re pounding the Brew Crew. That will clear the decks for the Veep debate.

For Sarah Palin, this just might be her own version of the playoffs.