Clooney on the ballot: So what's in a name?

By Feoshia Henderson
Post staff reporter

Twenty-two year old Stephanie Able was one of the first Thomas More College students waiting to hear
Nick Clooney talk politics as part of the college's "Meet the Candidates Series" last week.

Before Clooney arrived at the student center, the senior quickly took a seat in the second row, where she
revealed a bright green T-shirt that presumptuously proclaimed "Mrs. Clooney."

But Nick's wife, Nina, shouldn't worry. Able is a fan of George, Nick's movie-star son.

"I was kind of hoping that he'd show up," the registered Republican said with a laugh. "I doubt that he's
even going to show up; it would be nice, but I highly doubt that."

Though Able said issues will determine whom she votes for, she is no doubt one of countless Northern
Kentuckians who think -- just maybe -- they'll catch a glimpse of the former "ER" and "Ocean's Eleven"
star, hoping that George Clooney will join his dad as he crisscrosses the 4th District in his campaign for
Congress this fall.

Nick, whose sister is the late singer Rosemary Clooney, has played down his famous name on the campaign
trail. But whether Nick is meeting voters on a college campus, at a county fair or a local restaurant, he's
often asked some variation of the question, "Where's George?"

Right now he's out of the country, his father said, shooting a film until at least Nov. 11, well after the Nov.
2 election.
Clooney said the questions about his son are not a big deal.

"That's about the extent of it," he said. "I can't think of anytime when someone asked a political question
about George. It's usually, 'How is he doing?' Or, 'Is he making a movie?' That sort of stuff."

The Clooney name brings Nick instant recognition, and at times star-struck adoration. Potential voters often
ask for his autograph or for an impromptu photo with the Democrat.

But Clooney has been careful not to make his son or his celebrity a big part of his campaign. He said he's
turned down numerous calls to appear on national political television shows such as CNN's Crossfire.

And, so far, George hasn't been explicitly featured in any of his father's campaign media or been spotted
knocking on doors in the sprawling district that stretches from Oldham County to the West Virginia border.

But George has been active in a way that's drawn Republican ire: raising campaign cash. The star has hosted
a number of private, celebrity-studded fund-raisers for his father, including one at his Hollywood home.

Among his Who's Who of celebrity contributors are actors Catherine Zeta-Jones, Warren Beatty, Drew
Barrymore and Renee Zellweger. Some Republicans think the Clooney name carries some negative baggage
in the conservative congressional district, where President
Bush is very popular. George's liberal views are well-known. He's spoken out against the president's decision
to go to war in Iraq and was quoted in GQ magazine a few years back as calling Bush "dim."

Kenton County Republican chairman Greg Shumate said the Hollywood cash makes George, and his views,
a part of the campaign.

"He helped his father raise substantial amounts of money, which becomes a factor in the race," Shumate
said. "Because of that, it shows his views would tend to be more aligned with his dad."

Clooney's Republican opponent, Geoff Davis, said the same. In response to Democratic charges that
out-of-state GOP bigwigs are propping up Davis' campaign with cash and district appearances Davis said,
"By that same logic then, my opponent is beholden to
Hollywood liberals who do not like the values of the heartland."

Davis, who owns a small business-consulting firm, has repeatedly labeled Clooney an out-of-touch liberal.
The Republican has said he can best represent the district's 'conservative values.'"

"I believe he knows how silly that is," Clooney said. "He's had a fund-raiser in Washington, as well. It takes
funds to run a campaign because of TV. He knows that, and I know that.

"I hope people who are supporting me think that I'll do a good job in Congress."

Clooney came out early in his campaign with a commercial emphasizing conservative ideas. He said he was
against abortion, pro-military and believed "marriage is between a man a woman."

"Many people who have given to me probably don't agree with me on the issues," he said. "If they think I'll
vote any other way, they're sadly mistaken."

Whether George and his Hollywood connections help or hurt Clooney's campaign depends on whom you
ask.

The Republican National Congressional Committee, which is running a biographical television ad featuring
Davis, has said Clooney "leans too far left" for the district.

Clooney's defenders say voters will separate the father's views from the son's.

"I think that if you would go down the street and ask anyone, they would say children have their own
opinions. George is still his son," Kenton County Democratic Party chair Nathan Smith said.

"People respect Nick Clooney for being a part of this community for his whole life, and I think the voters
know better than what the Republicans want them to believe."

Nick has his own piece of celebrity in Northern Kentucky; he's a longtime television news anchor and was a
columnist for The Post before he took unpaid leave to run for office. He was also the host of American
Movie Classics and has been the emcee for community events across the district.

He's a well-known face who usually attracts more media attention than Davis.

"People magazine has been in; "Inside Edition" came to a town meeting," Clooney said. "They came up and
talked to us, as well.
"When they just show up, I'm not going to do that, 'No comment.' I will talk to them when they come here,
but I'm not accepting invites to California."

Davis, who in 2002 ran a close second for the seat against retiring Rep. Ken Lucas, D-Ky., of Richwood,
can joke about the celebrity dynamic.

"My little boy is going around telling all his friends that his daddy is going to beat Batman's daddy," Davis
said, referring to 1997's "Batman & Robin," movie in which George played the caped crusader.

"That's one of the oddities of the race. I've had friends in the media who've told me they've gotten called by
ET and Access Hollywood," Davis said with a more serious tone. "People are looking for leadership.
They're not looking for celebrity; they're looking for substance."

Larry Sabato, director of the nonpartisan Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said he doesn't
think voters will be swayed by the Clooney name.

"That rarely happens in any election, even when you have a major star. And (Nick) is not. His son is, but he
isn't," Sabato said.
Sabato said Nick's famous donors might not endear him to conservative voters.

"He's getting money to run his campaign, but you have to take the bad with the good, and the Hollywood
elite are not very popular there," Sabato said.

Nick was born in Maysville and lives in Augusta. George went to college at Northern Kentucky University,
and Nick's daughter Ada, a mother and writer, lives in Boone County.

Sabato said Clooney's connection to the district could deflect some of the "liberal Hollywood" aura that
some have tagged to him.

Thomas More student Elizabeth Gilbert, who also saw Clooney speak at the college, said celebrity wouldn't
influence her vote. But she thinks it could help Nick come Election Day.

"If they see a name that's more catchy, that they recognize, I think people lean to it," she said. "If someone
doesn't learn anything about the candidates, and they (see) the names Geoff Davis and Nick Clooney at the
ballot box, they think, 'Oh Clooney.' They make that reference that it's known, it's good."

Publication Date: 10-09-2004

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