Posted on 03/22/2004 8:03:15 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
In Louisville last night, actor George Clooney wrapped up a round of celebrity-driven fund raising for the 4th District congressional campaign of his father, former television personality Nick Clooney of Augusta.
Two receptions at the Kentucky Center appeared to raise about $100,000, based on the number attending and the ticket prices — $1,000 for a reception with a photographer and $250 for a less exclusive event.
Like-priced events Saturday night in the Clooneys' native Northern Kentucky, the heart of the district that runs from Oldham County to Ashland, appeared to raise about $140,000.
Former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry, a Democrat who attended events both nights, said he thought the goal was $100,000 per night. Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson, host of last night's $1,000 event, said it raised more than expected but he did not have specifics.
A minimum $500-per-person event at George Clooney's home in Studio City, Calif., on March 6 raised more than $200,000, said Democratic Rep. Ken Lucas, who is retiring and supporting Nick Clooney.
All the events were private, and George Clooney did not respond to an interview request submitted through his Los Angeles publicist.
That reflected the Clooney campaign's desire to keep the focus on the candidate and away from his son — a well-known liberal who grew up in the conservative district but holds views that could backfire on his father.
"Our position is that Nick is his own man," said Bob Doyle, the campaign's Washington-based general consultant. "George is doing this because he's a son who loves his dad and wants his dad to succeed, and we know voters in this district will not confuse the two."
Not necessarily, said Justin Brasell, campaign manager for Republican Geoff Davis of Fort Mitchell, who lost to Lucas by 3.6 percentage points in 2002 and is the leading fund-raiser for the May 18 GOP primary.
"They can't win without George, because Nick can't raise the money on his own," Brasell said. "And they might not be able to win with George, because he's so controversial."
Nick Clooney, the only Democrat in the race, said in an interview that he had raised $304,000 through February, a little more than three months after Lucas announced that he would retire and was supporting Clooney. The candidate is a former host on the cable network American Movie Classics and a longtime newscaster in Cincinnati.
"I think the money's been coming in pretty good before the events," said Clooney, 70. He said he needs to raise $1.2million to $1.4million.
Henry said other Kentuckians are waiting in line to hold fund-raisers with George Clooney this fall, but Nick Clooney said his son will do no more. "He's my retirement plan, you know. He's got to keep working."
For some last night, George Clooney was the main attraction. David Harrod, of Frankfort, said he came with his sister because "Kathy wanted to get a picture with George Clooney, her favorite actor."
Some who crowded the arts center last night for a concert by singer Jewel tried unsuccessfully to catch a glimpse of the movie star. "I've just been a really big fan of his for a long time, since `ER' — `Facts of Life,' really," said Dorinda Rubio, 27, of Louisville.
George Clooney is attractive to many, but his outspoken liberalism — he has called President Bush "dim," for example — "will help the other side to make its case that Nick Clooney is out of touch with voters," said Amy Walter of The Cook Report, a nonpartisan Washington newsletter.
Davis, who will face Erlanger attorney Kevin Murphy and Boone County chiropractor John Kelly King in the primary, said in an interview yesterday that Nick Clooney "is clearly liberal across the board," based on 15 years of columns Clooney wrote for the Cincinnati Post. But Davis said examples would wait until after the primary.
Nick Clooney refuses to wear a philosophical label but says he will answer questions on issues and leave conclusions up to voters in the district.
"Everything I've learned, I've learned in the 4th District of the commonwealth of Kentucky, and whatever values I have were taught to me there, and those are the ones I will transport all up and down this district, and if I'm fortunate enough to be elected those are the ones I will take to Washington," Clooney said.
"There's no Democrat who's going to run this year or at any time in the recent past who is not going to be called too liberal for this district."
Clooney said that if elected, he would vote for legislation "limiting abortion on demand" and for a constitutional amendment that would ban abortion except in cases where the woman's life was threatened. But he said he would rather not change the Constitution.
"That's a very easy way to get out from under it, because you know nothing's going to happen for five or six years," he said. "I'll be happy to vote for a constitutional amendment, but that's way down the line.
"Why don't we face up to it, and if we want to legislate, legislate and then let the courts make their decision, and then if it requires a constitutional amendment, OK, if the courts throw out everything we say, then that may take a constitutional amendment."
The Cincinnati Enquirer contributed to this story.
Shouldn't those that think like Europeans run in districts like - ah - Europe?
He'll reach Alec Baldwin status in a couple years.
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