Baucus backs his staffer

In the eyes of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., is already a hero: He’s led the charge on securing government funding for research on how to cure juvenile, or type 1, diabetes.

But at the foundation’s annual gala Tuesday at the Palm Restaurant in Tysons Corner, Baucus proved to be a hero to one of his staffers as well.

Elizabeth Kelley, who works on Baucus’ “Friends of Max” re-election effort, suddenly fell ill and fainted while standing during the event’s reception. Shouts of “Call 911!” rang out throughout the restaurant, and everyone darted for the nearest phone (including Jane Powell, wife of former FCC Chairman Michael Powell). Alas, when you’re in the company of people who make health issues their vocation, you’ve got some steep competition to be the first on the phone to an ambulance. So even though Powell ran to the Palm’s phone, another attendee already was on the line with the ambulance.

Baucus and his chief of staff, Jim Messina, were quick to Kelley’s side to provide some comfort and relief. Baucus flagged the bartender for some ice water. Messina carried Kelley’s bag. And before you know it, Kelley was fine.

“Max is very caring and I appreciated what he did,” Kelley told us. “He’s a great guy and an amazing boss.” Aww ...

Even the JDRF — no stranger to medical heroics — was impressed.

“The senator was really concerned about Elizabeth,” said Pam Gatz, executive director of the JDRF’s D.C. chapter. “You could tell that he takes a personal approach to his staff and cares about health issues in general.”

Borat in town!

Yeas & Nays has learned that Sacha Baron Cohen (aka “Borat”) will be attending (not performing at) April’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Very niiice!

For presidents, look to the countryside

We’ve heard about the 2008 candidates’ policies, their voting records, their religion, even their hair. But some historians think we should focus on their hometowns.

“I can’t prove that being raised in a small town or educated in a small town is vital to success in presidential politics,” Timothy Walch, director of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, said on Tuesday. “It’s just a historical hunch on my part.”

Speaking at a preview of the National Archives’ new School House to White House exhibit Tuesday, Walch noted that of the 20th century’s 17 presidents, only three “were raised in big cities.”

“There must be something about small-town life that molds young men and women into leaders,” he said, adding that the small-towners “shared qualities such as ambition, perseverance, compassion and character.”

Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein picked up where Walch left off, adding some contemporary relevance. “I would remind you that of the current presidential aspirants,” he said, all but one are “city kids.”

Only John Edwards would be a true small-town president. “Edwards takes an agrarian and populist line,” he said.

“This is the first election in which you have this remarkable shift,” Weinstein said. “It’s the first post-IT-transformation election; the first postmodern election.”

Politicians in the circus tent

The circus is in town and, for a change, that doesn’t mean Congress.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is wowing the crowds over at the Verizon Center with its standard routine of dancing elephants, motorcycles in cages and high-flying trapeze artists.

And it probably should come as no surprise that politicians feel right at home when there are clowns around. Former Mayor Marion Barry stopped by Thursday evening with his godsons. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla., brought children, as did Mayor Adrian Fenty on Friday, who took in the show with his wife and children.

Fox News expects the best bash

Have you ever gone to a so-called “shwanky” D.C. after-party where “the action’s gonna be,” where the drink and food are said to be “top shelf” and where “so and so” is supposed to show up, and yet, when you got there, all you found was a bunch of 20-year-old interns and some Kendall Jackson?

Fox News Channel apparently knows the feeling, which is why, for the second year in a row, they’re saying that “pre-parties are the new-post-party.” Fox is forgoing an after-party at tonight’s Radio & TV Correspondents Association and opting for a pre-party instead (the invitation-only event will take place in the Washington Hilton’s outdoor gazebo). One Fox News insider told Yeas & Nays, “Most of the key players and A-listers in D.C. told us they blow off the post-parties because they’ve morphed into a prom atmosphere for junior staffers and interns to congregate — there’s a ‘been there, done that’ feel that was fine in the ’90s. ...”

Fox is holding its list of VIPs close to the vest, but you can expect some Bush administration Cabinet members, congressmen and senators among the crowd of Washington notables. And wouldn’t you know it: Competitor CNN is hosting a post-party. The battle’s on. ...

Despite invite, Bill won’t come to Hill

President Clinton has sent his regrets to a sharply worded invite from Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, on Tuesday.

Smith, the ranking minority member on the House Judiciary Committee, wanted Clinton to testify at a Thursday subcommittee hearing titled “The Appropriate Use of the Presidential Pardoning Power.”

Smith sent a letter to Clinton’s Manhattan office on Monday inquiring as to his “availability to testify at this hearing.”

Taking a thinly veiled jab at the former president, Smith wrote: “In recent years, various presidential pardons have fallen under harsh criticism. You are no stranger to controversial pardons, most notably the pardon of Marc Rich on your last day in office. I can think of no better person than you to speak on this issue. I believe your experience with exercising the pardon authority and defending it from intrusion by Congress would be invaluable to members of the subcommittee.”

But alas, Clinton won’t be playing ball. “Clinton’s office called midafternoon and said he won’t be available” because he won’t be in Washington on Thursday, a spokeswoman for Smith said.