Clinton urges Democrats to vote in November

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Reuters) - President Clinton raised $500,000 for Democratic candidates at a swanky fund-raiser Tuesday, urging supporters to get out the vote in November and highlighting the differences between the Democratic and Republican parties.

Clinton predicted Vice President Al Gore and his running mate Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the first Jewish politician on a major national ticket, would win the White House in the presidential election.

Clinton lauded Lieberman as "my friend for 30 years" and a man who valued ideas. The president also described Lieberman's wife Hadassah as a "wonderful woman" who he said would become "terrifically popular around the country" during the campaign.

Lieberman was the first Democratic senator to berate Clinton publicly for the Monica Lewinsky scandal, but called for him to be censured rather than impeached.

Attacking the tax cut proposal offered by Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, Clinton once again warned that it would be a "big mistake" to spend the entire projected budget surplus.

But Clinton shied away from directly attacking Bush, saying it was time to call a "halt to campaigns where the main strategy was to convince the voters that your opponent was just one step above a car thief."

Citing "gaping differences" between Republicans and Democrats on issues such as abortion, education, health care and the economy, Clinton warned Democrats against complacency.

"We must not let the people who did so much to bring America to this magic moment be punished in this election because times are so good people don't think it makes a difference," Clinton told 60 supporters at the dinner.

"There really are real differences here," Clinton said. "You've got to convince people. They need to pay attention. This is really important."

To take part in the fund-raiser, held at the sprawling Charlottesville mansion of Patricia Kluge, each guest was asked to contribute at least $5,000.

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