CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Presidential hopeful John Edwards inadvertently made news and the late night comedy shows this year when his campaign spending reports included two $400 haircuts. Now he’s joined other candidates helping a Concord hair stylist who seized on the moment to raise money to fight a developmental disability.

David Holden owns Hair Biz on Main Street, a couple of doors away from Edwards’ Concord campaign office. After the Edwards’ hair cut made news last spring, Holden challenged presidential hopefuls to come in for a $400 haircut of their own, promising to donate all of the proceeds to autism research. His 12-year-old son has autism.

Republicans Tom Tancredo and Mike Huckabee and Democrat Dennis Kucinich already stopped in for a $400 style. “They went a little beyond the challenge, and that’s wonderful,” Holden said.

During the weekend, Holden received a note signed by Elizabeth Edwards, and a check for $500 toward autism research.

“We all know the story kind of surrounded John Edwards, but we’ve never had any intention to being malicious,” Holden said. “We’re just really thrilled that they participated in this event.”

Holden said it doesn’t matter if candidates sit in his chair. “We just want them to participate and think about autism and early intervention, early screening. Hopefully, they’ll be thinking about it down in Washington.”

Holden said Mrs. Edwards wrote that she had seen an interview on YouTube about his challenge and admired the commitment he and his wife, Nancy, were making to their adopted son, Costica.

“This personal check is a small down payment on a larger promise John made some time ago to make the lives of children with disabilities and their families better,” she wrote.

Holden, who typically charges $17 for a man’s haircut, said he is firming up plans for other candidates to drop in and for expanding his challenge to the public.

Enlarged copies of news stories about the effort on his shop windows already attracted a contribution. He said a woman in town from Indiana saw the display and ended up getting a $400 style of her own.

By the way, the celebrity Beverly Hills stylist who cuts Edwards’ hair said the haircuts were so expensive because he went to Edwards, rather than Edwards coming to his salon a block off Rodeo Drive.

Holden is not backing any candidate.

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On the Net:

www.autism-society-nh.org

AP-ES-12-03-07 1611EST