"McCain has caught on fire and sucked all the oxygen out of Bradley's campaign," Newman said. "Independent voters who are intrigued by Bradley-McCain, now see the Democratic race as over after New Hampshire, while the Republicans are still going."

"Republicans have been forced to move more to the right in this heated competition," he added. "I'm sure they'd prefer not to but they have to win their primary. We've had to move to the left a little but not as much."

Newman has been working in the Democratic Party since his years at Harvard in the 1970s and worked for former Mass. Senator Paul Tsongas through his failed presidential bid in 1990. Afterward, he worked in the Clinton White House before coming home to Massachusetts to run the Vice President's campaign.

Gray has been working with Mass. Republicans for the past 10 years, aiding in the campaigns of former Governor Bill Weld and current Governor A. Paul Cellucci.

Pizza and Politics Coordinator Mattie J. Germer '03 said she invited the speakers in an effort to bring in experienced campaign managers from both major parties.

"We sent out letter to all four major campaigns, and these were the two that responded first. We're not making a statement about who's going to win the primaries," said Germer, who is also the Harvard Students for McCain coordinator.

Previous Pizza and Politics events have hosted political figures including Gov. Jesse Ventura and actor and onetime presidential prospect Warren Beatty.