VOTE CLOONEY?

CLOONEY, Nick, 1934-; CLOONEY, George, 1961-; ZETA-Jones, Catherine, 1969-; COSTNER, Kevin, 1955-; NEWMAN, Paul, 1925-2008; DAMON, Matt, 1970-

The article discusses how actor George Clooney's father, Nick Clooney, is running for Congress in Ohio. Despite more than 50 years as a local TV personality, radio host and columnist in the Cincinnati area, what has this particular campaign generating buzz in the Bluegrass State are Clooney's family ties: He's the brother of renowned jazz vocalist Rosemary Clooney (who died two years ago of lung cancer) and the father of Hollywood hunk George Clooney. As of June, two-thirds of Clooney's top campaign contributors were from L.A., including such stars as Paul Newman, Kevin Costner, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Matt Damon. In March George hosted a $500-a-head fund-raiser at his house in Studio City, Calif., bagging a reported $200,000. Despite the Hollywood help, Clooney's politics don't fit the celeb stereotype. A right-leaning Democrat who supports some restrictions on stem cell research and abortion, he was raised poor in Maysville, Ky., by his grandparents when his parents divorced. Clooney keeps up his rigorous daily calisthenics routine and has worn through the sole of one shoe with all the walking during 12-hourdays on the campaign trail. But that's not the toughest part of the job. At a recent stop at a middle school in Covington, a group of shy sixth graders finally got up the nerve to toss the candidate a couple of all-important questions. "Do people ever ask you for your autograph?" ventured one. Yes, added another, "what's it like to have famous relatives?" INSET: Clooney's Competition.