Clinton set for Paris fund-raiser

Thursday, Sept. 30, 1999 | 11:20 a.m.

President Clinton expects to arrive in Las Vegas Friday aboard Air Force One with a group of influential senators.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said this morning the senators will accompany Clinton to a fund-raiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at the Paris Las Vegas hotel-casino.

Besides Reid, the Senate's assistant minority leader, and fellow Nevada Democrat, Sen. Richard Bryan, Sens. Max Baucus of Montana, John Breaux of Louisiana and Barbara Boxer of California plan to be with the president when he greets party donors.

Baucus stands to become the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee when Sen. Daniel Moynihan retires at the end of the year, and both Breaux and Bryan are panel members.

The panel, like the House's Ways and Means Committee, is considered important to casino industry leaders, many of whom will be attending Friday's $10,000-a-person luncheon at Paris Las Vegas.

The Democratic campaign committee, which provides financial support to Democratic Senate candidates across the country, hopes to raise as much as $350,000 at the luncheon. About 35 Las Vegans are expected to attend.

The luncheon is being hosted by Arthur Goldberg, chief executive officer of Park Place Entertainment, which owns the city's newest megaresort. Goldberg is a prominent Democratic donor and longtime Clinton friend.

While here Clinton also plans to meet with several Las Vegans, including another close friend, Las Vegas Sun Editor Brian Greenspun, who is interested in helping him plan his presidential library in Little Rock, Ark.

Attorney Ed Bernstein, meanwhile, said today he hopes to meet with Clinton as well to discuss his possible Senate bid in 2000.

Democrats are encouraging Bernstein to challenge the Republican front-runner, former Rep. John Ensign, in the race.

Reid, who narrowly defeated Ensign last year, said Bernstein, a high-profile personal injury lawyer, has impressed Democratic officials with his commitment to spend $1 million of his own money in the race.

Bernstein recently returned from Washington, where he spent what Reid called a "good week" meeting with top White House and Senate leaders.

Bernstein told the Sun last week he was 90 percent sure he would run, but would make a final decision by Oct. 11, when Vice President Al Gore comes to Las Vegas to raise money for his 2000 presidential campaign.

According to an early itinerary released by the White House, Air Force One expects to touch down at McCarran International Airport about 11:55 a.m. Friday.

Clinton's motorcade is scheduled to arrive at Paris Las Vegas about 12:25 p.m., where the president will address the Democratic luncheon.

From 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Clinton has scheduled private meetings with Las Vegans, including those participating in the discussion of his presidential library.

Air Force One expects to depart McCarran about 4:25 p.m. for the president's next stop in California.