Spin Cycle

Forget about Republican John McCain’s attack ad deriding Barack Obama as “the biggest celebrity in the world.” The Hamptons fundraising season has taken off, with the famous and the near-famous leading the way in raking in dough for the Democrat.

Star Jones, the formerly fat co-host on “The View” — she lost 160 pounds after gastric bypass surgery and then was fired by Barbara Walters from the daytime TV gig — is hosting an Obama shindig at her Hamptons home Saturday that's dubbed “Under Star’s Tuscan Sun.”

But Jones, who filed for divorce in March and has been spotted this summer with NBA star Dwyane Wade, looks like a C-lister compared to the roster of boldfaced names hosting a brunch Aug. 17.

Billy Joel, Alec Baldwin, Russell Simmons, Barry Sonnenfeld and Gwyneth Paltrow are among 40 co-hosts for the Sagaponack event that features Caroline Kennedy as the star attraction. (Also listed: painter Ross Bleckner, Nassau public-relations guru Robert Zimmerman).

Obama won't be at either event — nor will he be at a Fire Island brunch next Sunday with Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean. But the fundraisers are talking of a hefty haul.

Reid J. Epstein

East Hampton Supervisor William McGintee, who was only a handful of votes ahead on election night, increased his lead in the recanvassing to 109 votes, which will give him a third term in office, according to officials in both parties.

In the recanvassing that was completed yesterday but has not yet been officially certified, Democrat McGintee won 3,320 to 3,211 over Republican challenger William Wilkinson.

On election night, McGintee was only eight votes ahead — 3,193 to 3185 against Wilkinson who also had the Conservative, Independence and Working Families ballot lines. The biggest change from the recanvassing resulted in tallies for East Hampton’s 5th election district in the western part of East Hampton Village, where on election night results that were called in had Wilkinson with 83 votes on the Working Families Party line. It turned out he had only three.

Rick Brand