CHICAGO - With much of America focused on the Super Bowl  on Sunday, White House hopeful Mitt Romney was looking for inspiration from his home team’s star player.

The former Massachusetts governor said he e-mailed New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Saturday to wish him luck in the National Football League championship game between the Patriots and the New York Giants. The game brought much of the United States to a grinding halt — including the campaign for the presidency two days before 24 states hold nominating contests on Super Tuesday.

“I e-mailed him an e-mail, just said good luck, and he e-mailed back,” Romney told reporters on his campaign plane on the tarmac at Chicago after a campaign rally.

“I actually sent him a couple of plays,” he joked, adding, “I wish he’d send me a couple of plays.”

Battling to stay in the race for the Republican nomination against front-runner Sen. John McCain, Romney said that in politics like football, people shouldn’t pay too much attention to the half-time commentary.

“You go out in the second half and it’s not at all like they said,” Romney said.

He watched the kickoff of the game at a sports bar in Missouri, after taking off his shoes and climbing on a table to address supporters.

PICTURE: Reuters/John Gress (Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney campaigns at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn Illinois)