Wednesday, June 11, 2003 | 10:44 a.m.
Hillary Rodham Clinton may or may not be able to win a presidential election.
But the results are in for a different contest, and the former first lady, current senator from New York and fledgling author has come in second -- right behind Harry Potter.
According to Chris Cantwell, the manager of the Barnes & Noble branch on North Rainbow Boulevard, first- and second-day sales of Clinton's memoir, "Living History," were "absolutely fabulous."
"But Harry Potter is easily the hottest book of the year," she said.
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the fifth book in J.K. Rowling's popular series, will be released at midnight June 20.
At the Borders Bookstore on Decatur Boulevard, manager Ed Krien said copies of Clinton's 562-page "Living History" were "completely sold out. We had 50 copies in here the first day (Monday) and they are all gone."
But he expects to sell a lot more Potter, and hopes to have "a few hundred" on hand when they go on sale next week. Krien also noted the Potter book has a "huge" number of pre-orders.
While Potter is the apparent sales champ, the Clinton tome generates far more controversy.
At Barnes & Noble on West Charleston Boulevard, customers on the floor have reportedly nearly come to blows arguing about the personal behavior of former President Bill Clinton and the ethics of his wife getting an $8 million advance for her memoir.
"We try to stay out of that," store manager Kathleen Carroll said. "But there is no question that we are getting a lot of response from the book and it is creating, how can I put this, lots of debate, on the sales floor."
Carroll said that to mark the Potter release, the store is being turned into a mini-Hogwarts school, store workers are dressing up as Potter characters and Lance Burton will be on hand to make the books magically appear.
If Clinton were to come to Las Vegas, maybe they could turn the store into a mini-Oval Office. But Carroll says Clinton's "secret" book tour will probably not include a Vegas stop (publisher Simon & Schuster is not announcing dates and locations on the summer tour more than a few days in advance because of security concerns).
"Our community relations people were approached, but it turns out that since Las Vegas doesn't have any superstores -- one of those three-story things with escalators and such -- Las Vegas wasn't deemed to have a large enough location to accommodate their needs."
Clinton's first signing, in New York City on Monday, drew thousands of supporters. They were given wristbands, similar to those issued to ticket buyers at rock concerts. Her second announced stop is Washington.
Rejected!
Light partner Andrew Sasson might be a foot shorter than Shaquille O'Neal -- and about 150 pounds lighter -- but he didn't back down when the underdressed basketball behemoth tried to get into the Bellagio club on Friday night.
Seems Shaq and his posse of eight, all dressed in baggy shorts, T-shirts and sneakers, were denied entry because they didn't conform to the club's dress code.
When they tried to talk their way in, Sasson and some of his security guards stepped in and turned the tide.
"Shaq first tried the old 'I am a celebrity' thing, and when that didn't work, he was all 'C'mon guy, it is hot here -- people got to wear shorts," a source with the club told VegasBeat.
It was a much better scene two nights later when occasional Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose went to the club. The recently troubled troubadour was gracious, tipped lavishly, and was generally on his best behavior, witnesses report.
Ch-ch-ch-changes
Change is good, says Celine Dion.
So after Franco Dragone -- the creative genius behind the staging of "A New Day..." at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace -- arrives in Las Vegas on June 22, look for some changes in the show.
Dragone, Dion and Rene Angelil will meet shortly after Dragone's arrival and they will definitely "do some tweaking," Dion told us through one spokeswoman.
"There were more numbers staged for the show than we see in any one performance, so the likelihood of a guest seeing something new on a return trip is good," she said.
VegasBits
Host: Former "Politically Incorrect" host Bill Maher was at ghostbar on Monday night. New episodes of his current HBO talker, "Real Time," return in July ...
Front row: Sitting in the very first row at Monday night's performance of "Mamma Mia!" at Mandalay Bay Events Center was Tony Orlando, mom Ruthie, wife Fran and their daughter, Jenny Rose. Also on hand were producer Marvin Lashever and dealmaker Jack Wishna with wife Donna ...
Score: The Primm Valley Resort was named as a destination for an "ultimate guy trip" in the current edition of Men's Health ...
Rock on: The Los Angeles group 88, called by Rolling Stone magazine in a recent review a white-hot indie band, plays at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Thursday night. The keyboard player and producer, Adam Merrin, is the son of Bruce Merrin, who runs the Las Vegas-based Celebrity Speakers Bureau ...
Hot chip: The Palms is issuing limited edition Nelly chips in connection with his June 29 show at Rain in the Desert. The chips, in denominations of $2.50, $5, $25 and $100, will be available starting June 26 ...
Hired: Former Sahara entertainment director Jackie Brett has been hired for a similar job at Imperial Palace. Brett replaces longtime Palace exec Connie Ross, who left last month. Brett starts Monday ...
More rock: Duran Duran plays The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel July 19. Classic acts Ted Nugent and Alice Cooper were just added for Aug. 2 ...
Crown jewel: Jay Strongwater will be at the grand opening of his new Forum Shops at Caesars store Thursday. He is known for his jewel-encrusted picture frames and such high-profile clients as Dion, Oprah Winfrey, Elton John, Madonna and Heather Locklear.
From Sun wires
Despite persistent rumors he's considering running as a Republican candidate for governor, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger insists the only thing he's campaigning for at the moment is his forthcoming film, "Terminator 3."
The 55-year old star of the "Terminator" movies, who spoke to a taxpayer advocacy group Tuesday night at a Century City hotel in Los Angeles, brushed off questions about his political ambitions.
archive
