He'll headline an event on December 17 at the Sheraton Towers in Manhattan, which is also a fund-raiser for Andrew Cuomo 2010. Tickets cost $1,000 per person, and bundlers are encouraged to buy tables (and a pass to the VIP reception before the dinner) for $10,000. Donors can also become "gold" and "silver" chairs for $25,000 and $50,000, respectively.

Fund-raising is critical, with a January 15 deadline looming. Cuomo is gearing up for a bid against David Paterson, and has been raising money steadily.

Paterson's own efforts have been somewhat halting.

In the spring, Matchbox 20 appeared at a Cuomo event and L.L. Cool J appeared for Paterson. The governor's own birthday party didn't yield him the bump that was expected.

Paterson is hosting a holiday celebration a week earlier, also charging $1,000 per person.