"Yes, sir, we met about a year ago in Chicago at a party fund-raiser."

He has talked to Democratic consultants; party fund-raisers have offered to work for him.

And in response to questions, they vigorously defended their attention to party fund-raisers.

The issue is an important one as party fund-raisers are scrambling to raise money for the 2004 elections.

Her name is a huge draw at party fund-raisers.

In all, about two dozen wealthy people and organizations will pay for the Democratic headquarters, party fund-raisers said.

He was also regarded as a major party fund-raiser in New England.

But some party fund-raisers said it was difficult to build a solicitation around the affair itself.

"For 99.9 percent of them, it's ego," said one party fund-raiser.

Because he had a very small political machine behind him, he rarely did public appearances or Party fund-raisers.