THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:

Following the theory of six degrees of separation, everybody knows somebody who knows somebody else.

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore has ties to recently deceased daredevil Evel Knievel. DeVore’s mother knew Knievel when they were both children growing up in Butte, Mont.

“I think she may have had a bit of a crush on him,” DeVore said.

Mama DeVore would watch Knievel attempt death-defying stunts on his bicycle in front of her house as a child, according to her son. The bicycle was later replaced with a motorcycle.

Knievel may have passed on to that great motorcycle ramp in the sky, but DeVore still has fond memories of imitating the great stuntman as a child.

DeVore earned a “heap of skinned knees” from imitating Knievel’s stunts on a bicycle wearing his Johnny Unitas-style Baltimore Colts helmet, he said. Perhaps these early scrapes and bruises persuaded DeVore to drop his daredevil aspirations for the perils of politics.

“It’s a wonder I didn’t break my neck,” DeVore said.

Young DeVore also was an avid model rocket builder, he said. He once built a replica of the rocket Knievel used in his ill-fated Snake River Canyon jump.

“Just like the jump, it didn’t work too well,” DeVore said.

WHO’S ENDORSING WHOM?

With the California Primary looming on Feb. 5, local politicos are lining up their political chips and endorsing candidates for their party’s nomination.

Whether or not their influence will have any impact on the ultimate recipient of California’s whopping 55 electoral votes is, of course, yet to be seen.

Rep. John Campbell, for example, has endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, citing his ability to solve large-scale problems in a scientific, nonpartisan way.

“I think he is the smartest, most accomplished and most capable individual running for president,” he said. “We have a lot of problems to be solved [and many] don’t necessarily have ideological solutions.

“I think he has proven himself, both as the governor of Massachusetts and a business leader.”

Assemblyman Van Tran, on the other hand, said he supported Arizona Sen. John McCain, citing the senator’s decades of service to the country — both as a politician and soldier — that he contends makes him more qualified than any candidate on either side of the aisle.

“Senator McCain will hit the ground running on the first day that he assumes office,” Tran said. “He doesn’t need any training, given his sacrifice and service for our country over the past 45 years.”

Tran also touted McCain’s policies on national security and foreign affairs, including the occupation of Iraq.

Earlier this week, Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor announced his support of Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, while Newport Beach Mayor Steve Rosansky endorsed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and State Sen. Tom Harman have yet to endorse a candidate, their representatives said.

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore said he was the first partisan state official to officially endorse former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson for president.

“He’s the only candidate who is consistently conservative across the board,” DeVore said. “Everybody else deviates from that. He’s the only candidate out there that represents the principles and values that I believe in.”

NO HARMAN ASKING

Sen. Tom Harman has not responded to numerous requests from The Daily Pilot to comment on a recent pay hike for state lawmakers.

At least four state senators and nine assemblymen have officially turned down a roughly $3,000 pay raise amid concerns over a tight budget. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has warned of a $10 billion budget deficit next year.

A few other lawmakers have said they will donate their raises to charity.

According to state controller John Chiang’s office, Harman has not rejected the 2.75% raise, which went into effect earlier this week.

The raise brings most state lawmaker’s salaries to $116,208.

Staff from Harman’s office said Wednesday the lawmaker was attending a Republican leadership retreat in San Diego and could not be reached.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at brianna.bailey@latimes.com.