Brian Dietrich didn’t have $1,000 to spend, but he did have a Bill Clinton puppet and a fascination with the former president.

So he and his mother drove down Friday from Omaha, Neb., to stand with their Clinton memorabilia in the hallway of the Lawrence Holidome. They sought a glimpse of Clinton at the $1,000-a-head fund-raiser for the Kansas Democratic Party.

“We’re not actually Democrats, but we’re fascinated with the office of president,” said Dietrich’s mother, Jeanne. “Especially Bill. He has a magnetic personality.”

The media and nonpaying public weren’t allowed inside the fund-raiser — which followed Clinton’s speech at Allen Fieldhouse — but Democrats who emerged from the hotel ballroom were similarly swooning. One called Clinton a “rock star,” while another compared the closed-door speech to a Baptist revival.

“This is a great opportunity to get the troops revved up and set our sights on what’s ahead,” said Troy Findley of Lawrence, an adviser to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The scene at the Holidome was a who’s who of Kansas Democrats. Congressman Dennis Moore was on hand, as were former Congressmen Jim Slattery and Bill Roy. Former U.S. Senate candidate Jill Docking and attorney general candidate Dan Lykins were there, along with more than 100 other party members.

Local Democrats who attended included Douglas County party chair Marilyn Greathouse, former chair Alice Lieberman and architect Mike Treanor.

Attendees said Clinton castigated President Bush’s handling of government, something he didn’t do during his fieldhouse speech, and praised Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

“This was better than the fieldhouse (speech), because I’m a Democrat and I love the red meat,” Lieberman said. “It was so energizing.”

Mark Simpson, a Democratic Party spokesman, declined to estimate how many people attended or how much money was raised.

Others said the event was a big boost for a party that, in Kansas, typically has to fight tooth-and-nail for any electoral foothold it can gain against Republicans.

“He’s terrific,” Slattery said. “There’s nobody better in the Democratic Party as a fund-raiser than Bill Clinton.”

Clinton calls for civility in speech Clinton calls for civility For those attending, awe overcomes heat Clinton fans show up early to get prime seats Fund-raiser energizes Democrats Visit’s costs add up for KU Other politicians have made stops at Mount Oread Clinton visits with Jayhawks Hopes high for lecture Other politicians have made stops at Mount Oread Pardoned drug dealer gets chance to meet Clinton Former Sen. Bob Dole introduces Clinton 6News video: Clinton’s lecture, part 1 6News video: Clinton’s lecture, part 2 6News video: Clinton’s lecture, part 3 6News video: Clinton’s lecture, part 4 6News video: Clinton answers question on partisanship 6News video: Clinton discusses youth involvement in politics 6News video: Clinton answers question on racial equality Photo gallery: Clinton delivers Dole Lecture Dole’s introduction of Clinton Clinton on his Jayhawk welcome (speech part 1) Clinton on the scholarship fund for 9-11 victims (speech part 2) Clinton on the purpose of disagreeing with leaders (speech part 3) Clinton on the U.S. making more friends and fewer enemies (speech part 4) Clinton on political cooperation in the U.S. government (question 1) Clinton on bringing young Americans into the political process (question 2) Clinton on race relations in the U.S. (question 3) 360-degree panorama view: Allen Fieldhouse during Clinton’s speech