State Democratic Party officials yesterday confirmed inviting likely 2008 Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to be the featured speaker at its major annual fund-raiser early next year.

The party's invitation to New York senator for the "100 Club" dinner was first reported in the New Hampshire Union Leader and on UnionLeader.com yesterday.

Nick Clemons, the state party executive director, said Clinton has not officially accepted. But he said, "They are definitely interested and they are just trying to see when they can make it happen."

Clemons said the "100 Club" is usually held in early February, but the date can range from January to March to accommodate Clinton's schedule.

Long-time Clinton adviser Howard Wolfson said the senator "is grateful for the invitation, and if she takes the next step, she would, of course, be spending considerable time in New Hampshire and would be honored to speak at the '100 Club.'".

Clinton has said she will decide whether to run for President soon after Jan. 1.

"There is a lot of interest in Senator Clinton," Clemons said. "She is definitely the front-runner and, therefore, should be of great interest to Democrats in New Hampshire right now."

State party chair Kathy Sullivan said that since Clinton "has not been in New Hampshire in several years, we thought there would be a lot of interest. We try to provide various national figures with the opportunity to speak to party events." Clinton last visited the state in October 1996.

Last Sunday, the party drew a sell-out crowd of 1,500 patrons and more than 100 media members to a Manchester pep rally-style fund-raiser featuring Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. A "100 Club" event featuring Clinton would also draw a huge crowd and probably sell out, although, as a sit-down dinner, it is unclear if it could logistically match or top 1,500 patrons.

Sullivan yesterday said her party's staff is adept at organizing events with huge crowds, as they proved by doing an "outstanding job" handling the Obama event. She said Clemons, finance director Jen Kuzma, communications director Kathleen Strand, other staffers and 40 volunteers, assisted by Obama's advance team, "got the job done."

"We really make an effort to have our party members and donors see as many of the candidates as possible and in different forums," she said.

Clinton has been calling many top Granite State Democrats and key players in other early caucus and primary states in the past two weeks. She has lined up a senior national staff, including former New Hampshire activist Karen Hicks as field director, in case she decides to run.