COURTENEY COX - STARS BACK CLOONEY'S DAD

MICHAEL DOUGLAS, RENEE ZELLWEGER, COURTENEY COX and DREW BARRYMORE are among a host of stars backing GEORGE CLOONEY's dad's bid to launch a political career.

Kentucky Democrat NICK CLOONEY, a former news anchor and newspaper columnist, raised nearly $500,000 (GBP277,700) in the first three months of this year, according to reports filed with the FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION - and a good chunk of the cash came from Hollywood stars.

ER star NOAH WYLE and film-makers HARVEY and BOB WEINSTEIN of MIRAMAX also gave to the brother of late singer ROSEMARY CLOONEY.

Nick Clooney raised more money in the quarter ending 31 March (04) than the three Republican candidates combined.

Clooney hopes to succeed Democratic incumbent KEN LUCAS, who is retiring after three terms representing the 4th Congressional District, which snakes along the Ohio river and includes much of the northern Kentucky suburbs near Cincinnati.