A packed room for former President Bill Clinton yesterday may help ensure an uncrowded field for Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl in next year's election.

Mr. Ravenstahl's endorsement of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in April's Democratic presidential primary helped him land her husband as the guest of honor at his campaign fundraiser at the Omni William Penn Hotel.

Some 400 people showed up, most paying $500, with around a dozen paying $10,000 each for a closer encounter with Mr. Clinton. Some 50 elected officials and Democratic Committee ward chairmen and chairwomen got free tickets.

"I think this fundraiser will get us very close, if not put us over, our goal of having a million dollars in the bank by the end of the year," said Mr. Ravenstahl. "I'm prepared for anything that comes our way, whether that's a Democrat or two in the spring [primary], and then if a Republican or an independent decides to [run] in the fall."

Voters could give Mr. Ravenstahl his first full four-year term, following his 2006 ascent from the City Council presidency after Mayor Bob O'Connor's death and his clear win in a special election last year. So far, no prominent challenger has emerged.

Longtime observers of city politics couldn't recall an ex-president helping a Pittsburgh mayor raise campaign money.

David Matter, president of Oxford Development Co., rode with Mr. Clinton from the airport, and said that the former president "is going to help people who helped Hillary, and that's the principal reason" for the visit.

Mr. Clinton avoided reporters. The event, including his 15-minute speech, was closed to the news media. Attendees said he brought a message of optimism.

"He talked about how well Pittsburgh is positioned for the future," said state Rep. Dan Frankel. He also said that the infrastructure investment President-elect Barack Obama plans could be a boon for cities, if they use it wisely.

Mr. Ravenstahl said the former president "sent the message that we will rebound, we will turn around," and threw in "a few wisecracks about my age." The mayor is 28.

"I was incredibly impressed with his knowledge of what's happening in Pittsburgh," Mr. Ravenstahl added. "He referenced the Pittsburgh Promise [of college aid for public school graduates], and how he thinks that will be very helpful for the future of the city. He referenced myself and the county executive working together toward city-county consolidation."

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato said his fellow North Sider was "in a very strong position for re-election. ... There's nothing out there that I see as a weak link right now."

None of the four people most often mentioned as potential challengers sounded like they were champing at the bit yesterday.

"With the strong backing he's got from Pittsburgh's corporate community, combined with the traditional labor and Democratic Party support an incumbent mayor usually receives, and the support of major elected officials starting with Dan Onorato, he is a very formidable candidate," said city Councilman William Peduto, who lost the Democratic mayoral primary to Mr. O'Connor in 2005 and bowed out of a challenge to Mr. Ravenstahl last year.

Mr. Peduto will hold a fundraiser Dec. 11, and hopes to raise $100,000 -- for his council re-election campaign.

"I'm doing it because the administration is actively seeking candidates to run against me," he said.

Council President Doug Shields was involved with Mr. O'Connor's first two mayoral runs -- both unsuccessful -- and knows how tough it is to knock out a mayor. He's raising money, but said that he's not ready to run at this point.

That said, he doesn't view the mayor as invulnerable.

"I think there's concern out there about his ability to manage. I think there's concern out there about his position that it's time to get rid of the city" by consolidating with the county, Mr. Shields said.

State Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-Brookline, plans to announce next week whether she'll run.

"There's a widespread sentiment that people want more out of their city government," she said.

The mayor has managed, she said, to wear the cloak of "heir apparent" to Mr. O'Connor, and inherit some of his popularity.

"We've had a serious increase in violent crime in the city," said city Controller Michael Lamb. "To some degree, he's going to have to deal with that."

But Mr. Lamb won't be the one calling him to the carpet -- at least not as a candidate.

"Incumbents are always strong," he said, "and they're always tough to beat."

One reason no incumbent Pittsburgh mayor has lost since the Great Depression is that they can raise money from companies that deal with city government.

Penguins President David Morehouse's organization benefited from the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority's decision two weeks ago to help cover arena overruns. He attended the fundraiser.

Also there was developer Todd Reidbord. On Nov. 13, his firm, Walnut Capital Management, got a $2.5 million loan with favorable terms from the city Urban Redevelopment Authority for its Bakery Square project in Larimer.

Developer DOC-Economou is expected to ask for public help for its emerging Baum-Liberty project, and the firm's vice president of public finance, Christine Fulton, was there.

So were representatives of the University of Pittsburgh, PNC Financial Services Group, and engineering and law firms -- some with city contracts.

"Some [contributors] do business with the city. Some don't," said Mr. Ravenstahl. "That's historically always been the case in elected offices like the mayor and the county executive. ... We're thankful that they're here.