STARS BACKING CANDIDATES PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS GLAD TO TAKE MONEY FROM CELEBS.

Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Vermont Gov. Howard Dean may have a lock on the anti-war glitterati like Susan Sarandon and Paul Newman, but Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., has friends like Courtney Cox Arquette.

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry managed to crack the safes of ``Italian Job'' stars Charlize Theron and Ed Norton to the combined tune of $3,000.

Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich, meanwhile, won the luck of the draw with a $2,000 check from singer Bonnie Raitt.

Big bucks from the stars are dropping fast and furious these days as Tinsletown opens its wallets for Democrat contenders in the 2004 presidential race.

In just the past three months, big-name stars have contributed nearly $60,000 to Democratic candidates, while behind-the-scenes entertainment industry movers and shakers gave upward of $225,000, according to a review of Federal Election Commission reports.

``For the last six months, it's been open casting call in D.C.,'' said Chad Griffin, a California political consultant based in Hollywood who represents actor-director Rob Reiner.

Reiner is one of the dozens of stars who have coalesced around Dean, attracted by the Vermont governor's early outspoken anti-war stance and his continued criticism of the Bush administration's performance in Iraq.

Dean's Hollywood list, according to the presidential campaign filing that ended June 30, shows a slew of other anti-war activists like former ``Cheers'' star Ted Danson, actress Janeane Garofalo and actor Alec Baldwin.

``They're not just celebrities - they're symbols,'' said University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato. ``Each one is a symbol of a different set of values.''

Kucinich, the one-time ``boy mayor'' of Cleveland whose congressional career is marked by his attempts to create a federal Department of Peace, garnered $1,000 from ``Seabiscuit'' star Jeff Bridges and $500 from Larry Hagman of ``Dallas'' fame.

``That's the chic candidate for the Hollywood types who find Dean too conservative,'' Sabato said.

Even Gephardt has run up a list of stars, including Arquette, who gave $1,000; Morgan Fairchild, who gave $500; and ``Crying Game'' star Forest Whitaker, who gave $2,000. Dweezil Zappa, son of legendary rocker Frank Zappa, gave $1,000 to Gephardt, as did his sister, Diva Zappa.

North Carolina Sen. John Edwards attracted just a handful of stars.

``Love Story'' star Ali MacGraw donated $250, Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey gave $2,000 and Barbra Streisand gave $1,000.

Streisand, in fact, has been spreading the love around, also giving $1,000 donations to Dean, Gephardt, Kerry, Florida Sen. Bob Graham and even the Rev. Al Sharpton. Notably left out of Streisand's largess was Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman.

Neither the star nor her publicist returned calls.

Political handicappers, however, have long noted that Lieberman's star appeal is stunted both by his hawkishness on Iraq and his tirades against the entertainment industry for its use of sex and violence.

``We welcome support where and when we can find it.'' said Lieberman spokesman Jano Cabrera. ``We understand some in Hollywood have a different opinion when it comes to informing consumers and parents about adult content in music and movies.''

Cabrera also noted that ``Will & Grace'' star Debra Messing had donated to and raised money for the campaign.

Lieberman's only other celebrity donor so far is ``Let's Make a Deal'' host Monty Hall.

Graham's celebrity donor list is also notably short. In fact, Streisand is the only one on it.

``I would expect as much; he's appealing to the rural 'Bubba vote' and the rural 'Bubba vote' doesn't like Hollywood,'' Sabato said. ``Hollywood can't help Graham. It could actually hurt him.''

The candidates, for their part, say they welcome the star endorsements but insist they are not seeking it out.

``More than anything, celebrities provide a character validation,'' said Dag Vega, a spokesman for Kerry. ``But as far as celebrities are concerned, we've definitely appreciated the support but so far we haven't proactively sought it.''

Yet Kerry's campaign did hold a Young Hollywood event on June 28 at the home of producer Lawrence Bender which was co-hosted by Dennis Hopper. Quincy Jones also has chaired Kerry fund-raisers as have a slew of industry bigwigs like CBS Entertainment President Nancy Tellem and Paramount Pictures studio executives Sherry Lansing and John Dolgen.

Reiner, who co-chairs Dean's California campaign, raised $125,000 for the Vermont physician/politician at a recent fund-raiser and plans to hold another one Aug. 3. That $500-a-plate breakfast, to be held at the Martha's Vineyard home of ``Murphy Brown'' creator Diane English, is also to be co-hosted by Kirsten Dunst and Jake Gyllenhaal.

President George W. Bush has stars on his donor list, as well. Giving to Bush's 2004 re-election campaign were Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers, who contributed $2,000, and Chuck Norris, who also gave $2,000.

Lisa Friedman, [phone]

lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, left, greets Buena Vista County Supervisor Jim Gustafson Thursday in Storm Lake, Iowa.

Nick Narigon/Pilot-Tribune

(2) Quincy Jones

(3) Barbra Streisand

(4) Jeff Bridges

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