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Bill Clinton tees off at Suozzi's Glen Cove fundraiser

BY ERIK GERMAN | erik.german@newsday.com

July 8, 2008

Bill Clinton paid a visit to Glen Cove yesterday and between the hundreds of handshakes and photo ops, the former president managed to fit in 18 holes of golf.

He teed off at the Nassau Country Club alongside dozens of Democratic party donors gathered to raise money for Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi. A stalwart supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Suozzi initially invited her to the $1,000-per ticket event. But the busy senator last week elected to send her husband instead, Suozzi's office said.

"It's a great honor for me that the president decided to come here," Suozzi said. "I'm just very grateful to him."

The event, which included hundreds of golfers spread across three different country clubs - followed by a $500-a-plate dinner - netted Suozzi more than $800,000, his office said yesterday. Suozzi has not yet formally announced his candidacy for county executive or any other post, but indicated in a recent interview that he is preparing for a run of some kind.

Major donors at yesterday's event included Clinton fundraiser Michael Leeds, the former head of the former CMP Media in Manhasset; Michael Angeliades, a major Long Island City-based contractor who worked on the restoration of the Nassau County Courthouse, among other public projects; and several major commercial developers, including Breslin Realty Development Corp, Polimeni International and the Beechwood Organization.

In the scramble-style tournament yesterday, Clinton played in a foursome alongside New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), Cablevision chief executive James Dolan, a registered Independent voter, and Suozzi's older brother, Christopher.

Members of Clinton's team said the president more than pulled his weight, with several Clinton shots being the team's best on two of the hardest holes.

"He really hits a long ball," Silver said afterward. "He also would offer tips on how to hit the ball if I hit a bad shot - which happened more often than not."

Silver said Clinton's two birdie putts contributed to the team's score of 65 - 5 under par.

Clinton's legendary charm was on full display yesterday, Silver said, with the former president posing for photos and clasping hands with everyone from elected officials to caddies and caterers. "He couldn't have been a greater gentleman," Silver said.

At the tightly secured private event, which was closed to the press, Clinton also signed autographs throughout the day, attendees said, inking his name on golf balls, score sheets and even the hood of a brand new Ingersoll Rand golf cart. The cart was set to be auctioned off for the further profit of Suozzi's still unspecified campaign.

CLINTON CLUB

Former President Bill Clinton played in Thomas Suozzi's annual golf fundraiser at the Nassau Country Club yesterday. In the scramble style tournament, the best shots among the team members are successively picked as the spots where the players hit from next, until the ball is sunk in the hole.

The Clinton group, from left, James Dolan, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, Bill Clinton, and Christopher Suozzi (Thomas' brother), shot a 65, which was 5 under par. But the score placed his team in the middle of the pack behind the tournament-winning score of 59.