ASHINGTON - For President Clinton, tonight will be a typical evening for the relentless fund-raiser-in-chief: swing by a hotel ballroom, chat up some wealthy Democrats, and raise a quick quarter-million dollars for a grateful candidate.
The curious thing is that the candidate is Representative Richard E. Neal, Democrat of Springfield, who is running unopposed and who already has more than $832,000 in his campaign chest.
Why would the president take time out of his packed schedule to help someone who presumably doesn't need the money?
''We're doing a lot for Democrats, those in tight races, and also some Democrats whom the president is close to,'' said a White House spokesman, Jake Siewert.
''In this day and age, you can't disarm,'' said Neal, adding that he had been asking the White House for a presidential appearance for more than a year.
Neal has been a strong backer of Clinton, whom the congressman also counts as a friend. The two men have traveled to Ireland together and have talked frequently of the Irish peace process.
One White House source did note that Clinton had committed to making a fund-raising appearance ''around the time of the China vote'' this summer. Neal, one of the last holdouts on whether to give China permanent normal trade status, ended up backing Clinton and voting yes.
Neal said he couldn't tell whether the China vote had made up Clinton's mind. He said: ''I've been pretty supportive of the president.''
Next month is Representative Martin T. Meehan's turn. While the Lowell Democrat is a virtual shoo-in for reelection - and has more than $1.6 million in his campaign fund - Clinton will host a fund-raiser for Meehan on Oct. 20 in Lowell.
''I'm not going to unilaterally disarm to the Republicans, this time or in a future election,'' Meehan said, echoing Neal's comments. ''Unfortunately, the cost of political campaigns is going up all the time.''
Perhaps more unfortunate for Meehan is that the event - marking the first time a sitting president has been to Lowell since Harry S. Truman - may be something of a financial wash.
When the president travels outside of Washington for a political event, the cost must be borne by the host, not the taxpayers. Meehan's contribution is estimated at $50,000 to 100,000.
Since the event hall holds only 500 people, and the tickets are priced at a local-friendly $200 apiece, Meehan isn't likely to take home a bundle.
No Massachusetts incumbent faces a serious threat in November, and three of them have no challenger. Still, all are keeping up the fund-raising effort.
Representative J. Joseph Moakley, Democrat of South Boston, has been raising an average of more than $50,000 a month for his campaign, bringing in $1.4 million since January 1999.
Cash on hand for other Massachusetts Representatives, all Democrats, stands at $1 million for Edward J. Markey of Malden; $452,000 for Amherst's John W. Olver; $313,000 for James P. McGovern of Worcester, who is unopposed; $157,000 for Barney Frank of Newton; $368,000 for John F. Tierney of Salem; $878,000 for William D. Delahunt of Quincy; and $261,000 for Michael E. Capuano of Somerville, who is running unopposed.
Siewert said the White House has not tabulated how much money Clinton has raised for Democratic candidates this year, saying it was ''many millions.'' The president has shown up for nine fund-raisers this month alone - and that does not include the fund-raisers for Hillary Rodham Clinton, and for various Democratic committees, Siewert said.
