Hillary Clinton To Stump For Murray First Lady To Visit Seattle On Monday To Raise Funds For Senator’s Re-Election Bid

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton makes a brief visit to Seattle on Monday to help raise money for Sen. Patty Murray’s 1998 reelection campaign.

Clinton will appear at a closed reception at the Rainier Club in downtown Seattle for the Democratic Senate Campaign committee, then speak at a $100-a-head “Golden Tennis Shoes” awards luncheon at Cavanaugh’s Inn staged by Murray, D-Wash.

The luncheon honors women for community service. “It stems from her start as a mom in tennis shoes lobbying the Legislature, when she was rebuffed. She believes all moms and dads, in tennis shoes or not, can contribute widely to their community,” said Rex Carney, Murray’s press secretary.

Up to 650 people are expected to attend the luncheon, Carney said.

The president and first lady used Seattle for high-budget fund-raising during the 1996 campaign.

Hillary Clinton was guest of honor at a $5,000-a-couple event held in the Laurelhurst home of shipping executive Stan Barer.

President Clinton held a $10,000-a-couple dinner last September at the Columbia Tower Club.

Murray, from the north Seattle suburb of Shoreline, is running for a second term in 1998. U.S. Rep. Linda Smith of Hazel Dell has announced she will run for Murray’s seat, and several other Republicans are thinking about entering the race.