candidates using their birthdays to raise funds for their campaigns

Party On, Candidates

By MICHAEL JANOFSKY
Published: November 30, 2003

WHEN you're a presidential candidate having a birthday, you're not getting older. You're getting richer.

Howard Dean, who turned 55 on Nov. 17, used the occasion to spend quality time with a group of very special people in his life: anyone willing to donate $55 to attend a rally at the Capital City Brewing Company in Washington. (Technically, it was a "suggested'' donation.) Beer was not included, so the 375 suds-seekers ran their own tabs.

Dr. Dean, the former Vermont governor, may have gotten the Birthday Bucks idea from Representative Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio, who used his 57th birthday (Oct. 8, for you fellow Libras) to organize a national fund-raising effort at, of course, $57 a pop. "We played it big on the Web as it was approaching,'' said Mr. Kucinich's campaign adviser, Jeff Cohen. "We got boatloads of checks.'' The day's take totaled $70,281. No word on the tally of cards with bad jokes.

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts turns 60 on Dec. 11, but there will be no piddling $60 gifts. His guests are expected to pony up $250 to $2,000 each at a fund-raiser.

Gen. Wesley K. Clark turns 59 on Dec. 23 - a little close to Christmas for maxing out on gifts, as he must have learned long ago, but his staff says they're making plans anyway.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/30/politics/campaigns/30POIN.html?ex=1070773200&en=48e783beacfeb171&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE