BY HOWARD WILKINSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Democratic congressional candidate Roxanne Qualls won't dodge a politically damaged President Clinton when he comes to Cincinnati next week for a Democratic fund-raiser.
In fact, she has asked him to stay a little longer.
The president is scheduled to come to Cincinnati Sept. 17 for a Democratic fund-raiser hosted by lawyer Stanley M. Chesley, a longtime supporter.
When news of the president's visit broke two weeks ago, the Cincinnati mayor, also the Democratic candidate in the 1st Congressional District, said she was not sure she could meet with the president because of scheduling conflicts. That prompted supporters of Republican incumbent Steve Chabot to say that she was trying to avoid a president tainted by a sex scandal.
But Tuesday, Ms. Qualls said she has rearranged her schedule and will be on hand to meet Air Force One when it lands at Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky International Airport.
The mayor has also invited Mr. Clinton to tour one of the Cincinnati neighborhoods that have applied for a $100 million "empowerment zone" grant.
"The president is the president and, of course, I will meet with him," Ms. Qualls said Tuesday. "And, hopefully, I will be able to talk to him about something that will help Cincinnati."
Mr. Chabot said he thinks Ms. Qualls made the wrong choice.
"My view is that there are some real questions about whether or not it is appropriate to be fund raising with a president who has admitted to the things he has admitted to," Mr. Chabot said, referring to the admission of a sexual affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Ms. Qualls, who is in the middle of one of the most hotly contested congressional races in the country, said she would meet the president at the airport and then make a previously scheduled appearance at a Woman's City Club forum on health care reform.
After the Woman's City Club event, she will go to the Democratic Party fund-raiser at the Amberley Village home of Mr. Chesley. He held a similar fund-raiser at his home featuring Mr. Clinton in March.
"After that, I am hoping that the president will spend some time and take a look at one of the neighborhoods," Ms. Qualls said. The Cincinnati neighborhoods -- Clifton-University-Fairview Heights, Corryville, Evanston, Mount Auburn, Over-the-Rhine, Queensgate, Walnut Hills and the West End -- will apply for the federal grant money as an "empowerment zone."
Designation as an empowerment zone would mean $10 million a year for 10 years, tax incentives and up to $130,000 in bonding authority. The money would be used to help form businesses in the neighborhoods. A spokeswoman for the White House press office said that the fund-raising trip to Cincinnati is still on the president's schedule, but that no decision has been made about Mr. Clinton's attending any public event.
The March fund-raiser raised nearly $1 million to help pay off the debts of the Democratic National Committee.
Mr. Chesley said that this fund-raiser is likely to be smaller, with the money going to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
