Senate spouse Brooke Burr has sent out invitations for her husband's annual birthday bash.

The event this year is on his actual birthday, Nov. 30, at the Forsyth Country Club in Winston-Salem, Barb Barrett reports.

Her husband, Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, faces re-election next year.
The Birthday Bash event began 10 years ago, Brooke Burr wrote in her e-mail to friends.

"In the years since, it has become a major fundraiser for the campaign and a special way for women of North Carolina to show their support for Richard," she wrote.

By tradition, women serve as hosts ($500, with three guests) or sponsors ($250, with one guest). They can invite even more guests for $75 a person. Money goes toward Burr's re-election campaign.

Special guests include former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and her husband, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

"Thanks for your past support and I hope I can count on you to be with us to celebrate Richard's birthday on November 30th," Brooke Burr wrote. "I am sure you know the importance of this election and this event."

Burr will be turning 54.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will attend Tuesday's funeral for former Sen. Jesse Helms in Raleigh. At the family's request, he also will deliver the eulogy.

McConnell joined the Senate in 1984, representing the nation's other major tobacco-producing state of Kentucky.

In his statement Friday on Helms' passing, McConnell said:

"Today we lost a senator whose stature in Congress had few equals. Senator Jesse Helms was a leading voice and courageous champion for the many causes he believed in. Jesse and Dot were great friends to Elaine and me. We mourn his passing and extend our deepest sympathies to the extended Helms family."

McConnell is married to Elaine Chao, the U.S. Secretary of Labor.