The Lowe brothers have taken on presidential politics . . . at least on primetime TV. Which one has the juicier role?

Rob Lowe gets to bed Calista Flockhart's Kitty Walker on Brothers & Sisters, as he portrays a smooth-talking, charismatic Republican senator seeking the presidency.

Meanwhile, Chad Lowe tries to assassinate a president and frame a terrorist for the deed on 24, as he portrays the deputy chief of staff who's trying to save the country from the commander in chief's perceived weak response to a string of terror attacks.

Rob's turn as an earnest Democratic speechwriter on The West Wing notwithstanding, who gets bragging rights in the Lowe family for the best political character?

(*Warning: Spoilers from this week's episode ahead*)

Will President Palmer II survive the assassination attempt? Are former President Logan's intentions noble or sinister?

As we ponder those questions, here are four more observations from 24's 11th hour to consider:

Quote of note: "He reminds me of you. You can see it in his eyes," Jack Bauer told his sister-in-law Marilyn of her son Josh, his (*ahem*) "nephew." Jack made these remarks while gingerly stroking the new widow's cheek.

Chad Lowe dished with TV Guide's Margy Rochlin about his slimy political operative character on 24, Reed Pollock, the one who last week ominously pressured President Palmer II's chief of staff to provide him with the president's itinerary so Palmer could be "removed," maybe as early as tonight.

Three things I learned from the interview:

1) Lowe doesn't know for whom Pollock is working.

2) Lowe thinks Pollock, who's widely believed to be concocting a presidential assassination plot, is "well intended, if maybe misdirected."

3) Lowe used to be on the same ice hockey team as Kiefer Sutherland.