Obama celebrates birthday, raises funds

BOSTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama blew out 47 candles as $5 million was expected to blow into his and Democratic Party coffers from a birthday-fundraiser in Boston.

The private event was expected to be the biggest political fundraiser ever in Boston, the Boston Globe reported Tuesday. It also was designed to help unify supporters of Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, and backers of primary rival Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

The Bay State overwhelmingly supported Clinton during its primary, despite Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's endorsement of Obama.

"We all wanted to make a dramatic statement that we're with him every step of the way," said Steven Grossman, a Clinton fundraiser and former Democratic National Committee chairman.

About 850 participants, lead by jazzman Harry Connick Jr. and his daughter, sang "Happy Birthday" to Obama, Illinois' junior senator. He also received a Boston Red Sox-themed Hawaiian shirt.

"I gotta say that, as a White Sox fan, this hurts a little bit, particularly because we've been losing lately," Obama said. "But it is a very attractive shirt, I must say."