Elizabeth Benjamin is keeping tabs on the congressional campaign of musical star John Hall of Orleans, and files an interesting item about Hall's ability to attract star power to his campaign fundraising effort.

Hall is an engaging, charismatic and magnetic figure in person. While he served as a Democrat in the then-mostly Republican Ulster County Legislature, he had even the most devout, conservative GOP party faithful liking him personally. (He served one term in office before deciding not to stand for re-election.)

But he's often attracted star power to various political efforts. Remember the "No Nukes" concert? He managed an effort that put James Taylor and Carly Simon on stage, together, singing "Mockingbird." That - in and of itself - is a greater accomplishmant than many incumbents in Congress can claim. But that seemed to have been the zenith of the anti-nuclear power movement (well, that, Three Mile Island and the movie The China Syndrome.)

If Hall wins, his district will sit in the shadow of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.

Hall also threw his support behind Jerry Brown's 1992 campaign in the New York presidential primary, when Brown was the last man standing between Bill Clinton and the nomination. (Hall had some of his friends, including John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful, play a primary night fundraiser and gathering for Brown in Woodstock.) Clinton trounced Brown before the then-Arkansas governor made his famous "You Gotta Believe" remark declaring victory.

Now Hall is running for Congress as an anti-war Democrat in a district that includes the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Stewart Airport in Newburgh.

So he brings passion, talent and a high-profile Rolodex into his effort. But will that translate into victory?

In the past, it's been a very mixed bag for Hall.