First Lady Says She’s ‘In’ N.Y. Race

WASHINGTON —  Stopping just short of an official announcement, Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday said she is “in this race” for Senate from New York next year.

“I am honored to be in this race, looking to succeed someone whom I admire, Sen. Moynihan, and to continue much of the work that he has done,” the first lady said at a birthday fund-raiser attended by about 300 people, including the president and several celebrities.

“I am looking forward to this campaign,” she added.

Mrs. Clinton has created an exploratory committee that allows her to raise and spend money as she considers a bid to succeed retiring Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan. While indicating recently that she is leaning so far toward running that “if I leaned over any further I would fall over,” she does not expect to announce her plans officially until early next year.

Her campaign spokesman, Howard Wolfson, cautioned against interpreting her remarks as an announcement speech. But, he added, “I don’t think there’s any doubt in anyone’s mind that she’s very serious about this process.”

Hillary Clinton also referred indirectly Saturday to her likely Republican Senate rival, New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. “We will have a very clear choice in the race for the Senate from New York, and I welcome that,” she said.

Giuliani has not officially entered the race but also is raising money.

At the Clinton fund-raiser, the president praised his wife and said it was time New York, “which has been on the cutting edge of so many other developments,” elected a female senator.

Supporters contributed from $500 to $2,000 each for the chance to munch on muffins and drink coffee and mimosas at a hotel blocks from the White House. They blew noisemakers and sang “Happy Birthday.”

Among those on hand were actress Marisa Tomei; the top Senate Democrat, Tom Daschle of South Dakota; and blues musician B.B. King. Musicians Gloria Estefan and John Fogarty and the pop group ‘N Sync stopped by on their way to a charity concert at the White House.

Mrs. Clinton turns 52 Tuesday, a day after a celebrity fund-raiser in New York City that is expected to raise at least $1 million.