NYPost

HILLARY PAC$ THEM IN FOR COZY DINNER

By VINCENT MORRIS

June 20, 2001 -- Hillary Watch

WASHINGTON.

HILLARY CLINTON has quietly cranked up her formidable fund-raising machine once again, hosting intimate dinners for donors at her Embassy Row mansion.

Last week, a handful of Democrats dined with Clinton at her $2.8 million mansion - with each guest bearing a $5,000 check made out to Hillary.

The money went to HILLPAC, which Clinton created earlier this year to help her play kingmaker on the national political stage. It's unclear how much was raised.

The low-profile event was in contrast to Clinton's first fund-raiser at her new home, which was publicized in advance and swarmed by reporters.

The former first lady told The Post she's eager to generate money for her own political-action committee, after previously hosting events to help the Democratic Party and fellow freshman Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).

"It was a good event. It was small and people had fun," said Clinton, who is considered one of the Democratic Party's biggest fund-raising stars.

Clinton also is lending a hand to national money-raising efforts, planning to join in a fund-raising toast for new Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) on Tuesday.

Clinton recently helped Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) by making phone calls to potential donors and urging them to write checks to help female Democrats get elected to Congress.

"She's being very helpful," said a key Democratic fund-raising aide.

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Despite the fact that Chelsea will soon be heading to England to study at Oxford - where her dad was a Rhodes Scholar a generation ago - Hillary said she's not worried about losing contact with her only child.

"Are you kidding? We talk all the time," Clinton said.

She also did not rule out the possibility that Chelsea, who graduated from Stanford over the weekend, would make a visit to the Capitol at some point in the future.

As for Chelsea's graduation, Hillary gushed: "It was a wonderful event in her life. I'm just really proud."

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001