Clinton Presides Over Birthday Gala for His Wife

President Bill Clinton gave his wife an early 53rd birthday present on Wednesday, serving as host of a a star-studded bash in the Big Apple that will pump $2 million into her New York Senate campaign.

A lineup of Hollywood's elite, including actors Robert De Niro, Whoopi Goldberg, Cameron Diaz and Ben Affleck and music stars Cher and Al Green, was scheduled to entertain more than 150 guests at the "Birthday Celebration for Hillary."

Each guest paid at least $10,000 for the privilege of attending the event at the Roseland Ballroom, followed by a "wrap party" at Elaine's restaurant.

After that, the first lady was to return with the president to Washington, where they will celebrate Mrs. Clinton's actual birthday on Thursday, her final one in the White House.

With less than two weeks until the election, Clinton has crisscrossed New York state three times this week as his wife's lead campaigner and fund-raiser in chief for her hotly fought race against Representative Rick Lazio.

All week, Clinton has used stump speeches for his wife to campaign hard also for Vice President Al Gore, who is running for president against Texas' Republican Gov. George W. Bush.

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