Sunday, October 19, 2003; Page A04

The Iowa Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner is next month's political event of the century. It's a golden chance for some presidential candidate to grab the attention and imagination of the nation's media -- and a fair percentage of the likely voters in the Iowa caucuses not 10 weeks thence.

So some of the nine candidates for the Democratic nomination are privately steamed that the star of the Nov. 15 dinner will be . . .

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

"Outrageous," one Democratic source said.

This is not the first time a Clinton overshadowed the field in Iowa. In September, the candidates schlepped to Sen. Tom Harkin's annual steak fry to play supporting roles in former president Bill Clinton's show.

State party Chairman Gordon Fischer insists the candidates should actually be thrilled. "This is the penultimate statement that she is not running herself," he said of the former first lady, who remains the dream candidate of many party loyalists. "She wouldn't come to emcee this dinner if there was a ghost of a chance that she was going to run. She will be introducing each of the candidates and will be required to say flattering things about them."

Miffed or not, eight of the nine Democratic aspirants have said they will attend the dinner, where they will have about five minutes each to pitch themselves. Fischer is still hoping to hear from the ninth, Al Sharpton.

Why invite another Clinton? Fischer can cite nearly 9,000 reasons. The party sold that many tickets to the dinner in a mere 50 hours, at prices ranging from $40 for a nosebleed seat to $750 per plate at the best tables. Hillary Clinton has also agreed to be the draw at two receptions before the event and at a post-dinner soiree.

After a pause to allow donors to hit the ATM, the New York senator will appear the morning after at a brunch to benefit her political action committee.

Former Vermont governor Howard Dean opened an e-mail the other day in his personal mailbox. "Dear Friend," the jaunty message began.

"The Clark for President campaign is kicking into high gear! A new poll shows that General [Wesley K.] Clark is the only Democratic candidate who can beat George Bush in voter-rich California." Etc., etc.

Then came the point: "We are asking for your financial support."

Dean, who believes he sees a better Bush-beater in his shaving mirror each morning, will not be sending money, campaign spokeswoman Dorie Clark (no relation to the general) said. "Looks like the Clark campaign is either buying spam lists or trying some 'psy-ops,' " she added.

Speaking of Clark: Clark isn't. Speaking, that is.

The general has lost his voice after a month of nonstop travel and speeches, punctuated by ague and catarrh. Aides say that, in hindsight, he should have gone to bed weeks ago, when he first caught a cold. But you know soldiers.

Finally, reduced to mere croaks and whispers, Clark canceled his late-week events and went home, communicating only by gestures.

"If we can keep him not talking for four days, hopefully his voice will come back," Clark spokeswoman Mary Jacoby said.

Post-Schwarzenegger and post-Ventura, is there no future in public service for young people with underdeveloped deltoids? Fear not. According to various news outlets monitored by National Journal's "Hotline" -- which was into obsessive blogging long before obsessive blogging was cool -- political careers are dawning for a diverse range of celebrities.

For example: Republican comedian Dennis Miller, Paganini of the rant, is weighing a race against Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

Genial TV host Pat O'Brien, a Democrat, nurses dreams of running for governor of South Dakota -- someday.

And former superstar spouse Tom Arnold is talking of running for governor of Iowa.

Dare we dream: Oprah for President.

"I'm not surprised that Governor Dean would oppose this. I've lost confidence that he has any understanding of the national security responsibilities of a president."

-- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), to whom the formerly insurgent Howard Dean is often compared.

McCain was speaking to the Manchester Union-Leader

about Dean's opposition to

the $87 billion requested for military operations and reconstruction in Iraq

and Afghanistan.