I know I should be paying more attention to the Democratic candidates. I should be paying more attention to my gums, too. But what you should do and what you actually end up wasting hours and hours doing are sometimes two different things.

Take TV, for example. Maybe I’m not making the most responsible viewing choices. I can tell you scads more about Trista, Ryan, Bob and Estella than I can about Howard, John, Wesley and … um … all the other very fine candidates running for president.

See, Trista and Ryan met on the reality show, “The Bachelorette.” Bob made it to the finals — lost — but then he got to be the next Bachelor and chose Estella, who …

Ahem. Sorry. This was supposed to be a political column. But since there are probably other weak-willed Americans like me, I hereby propose a solution: reality TV for Democrats. Some possible shows:

“Temptation District”: Each candidate is paired with an elderly American who can’t afford to refill her oxygen tank. The couples are flown to a lavish D.C. fund-raiser thrown by a consortium of drug companies, HMOs and, out of sheer force of habit, Halliburton. Will the candidates stick by their dates — who start gasping and crumple to the floor — or trot off for free samples of Prozac and an AARP endorsement?

“Good Ol’ Eye for the Liberal Guy”: Candidates converge in a small town south of the Mason-Dixon line where they are made over by a group of teeth-missin’, cousin-kissin’, Dixie Chick-threatenin’ guys called the Confed Five. These Five — all car detailers — replace the candidates’ blazers with hunting vests, teach them how to prepare squirrel hors d’oeuvres and redecorate their local campaign headquarters by mounting a gun collection next to the liquor cabinet above the crib. Candidate who can refrain from saying”I feel your rural pain” wins.

“The Really Real World”: In a comfortable home outside Iowa City, candidates move in with a family where Dad has lost his programming job, Mom has lost her catering job and their three sons — all accounting majors — are home again after college, competing for a prep chef job at Chili’s. Each week bankers repossess one roomful of furniture, one candidate and one American dream.

“Average Joe (& Howard & Al & … )”: An undecided voter pours her heart out. She is looking for that perfect candidate who is gallant on the environment, tough on crime, brilliant at budgeting and, of course, good in bed with other countries. But when the candidates appear, her face falls. Will she recover and choose one — or demand a date with Hillary?

“Trading Favors”: Candidates paired with lobbyists from the oil, gas, building and defense industries are given 48 hours and $20 million to completely make over their platforms. Show brought to you by Halliburton.

Lenore Skenazy is a columnist for the New York Daily News.