The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> MR. FIX-IT PAINTS THE TOWN br> Bill Clinton irked many former backers in Arkansas earlier this year when he met with Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee and committed to attend and help organize this week's fundraiser at the Arkansas governor's mansion in Little Rock. Clinton's old home is slowly falling apart, and the event is expected to raise several hundred thousand dollars to help pay for renovations. When he made his commitment to Huckabee, Clinton had yet to appear this year on behalf of local Democrats, including the underfinanced Jimmie Lou Fisher , who is running against Huckabee this year. /p>

"It wasn't that he didn't want to, he wasn't asked or invited," said a Clinton staffer. "The president's schedule doesn't allow him the luxury of just dropping by. The Fisher campaign [has since] asked for help, and we'll be there as invited."

Clinton's presence for the Fisher campaign this week should pull in a couple hundred grand for her race. She trails Huckabee badly in the cash column. He's already raised more than a million re-election dollars.

While Clinton expects to make a brief appearance on behalf of Fisher, with some comments and then lots of handshaking, the big issue under discussion has been the picture that people are paying $1,000 a pop for at the mansion fundraiser.

Clinton wants to be front and center in each photograph, which is expected to feature the donor and the seven living governors of the Razorback State. Huckabee, as the sitting governor, wants to be front and center too. How the egos negotiate this one will be interesting to see.

"That's B.S.," says the Clinton staffer. "There is no ego involved here, no jockeying for position. This is just a fun, charitable event."

topics:
Bill Clinton, NATO