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Hillary Clinton attended Pakistani fund-raiser

WASHINGTON: First Lady Hillary Clinton attended a fund-raising event for her Senate bid organised by Pakistani-Americans, before President Bill Clinton decided to add Pakistan to his upcoming Asia visit, The New York Times said on Tuesday.

While there was nothing illegal in the February 22, 50,000-dollar dinner held here and no evidence has surfaced that the first lady influenced Clinton's decision, it shows how some people may seek to influence Clinton's policies indirectly, through his wife's Senate bid, the daily said.

White House spokesman Mike Hammer told the daily that Hillary Clinton's "views were not part of the decision-making process" behind the president's altered itinerary in Asia.

The organisers of the 1,000 dollar-a-plate dinner said Hillary Clinton spent more than two hours there but left before the meal was served.

The hosts were a group of Pakistani-Americans who wanted to press the case to Hillary Clinton that her husband should visit Pakistan, the daily said.

The first lady told her hosts that she hoped the president would visit Pakistan, the daily said.

Hillary Clinton is running in November to represent New York state as a Democrat in the Senate. Her rival in the elections is New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, a Republican.ÑAPP