47 candles -- and no need to keep his wish a secret

Barack Obama celebrated his 47th birthday Monday night at -- where else? -- a campaign fundraiser, this one on the 33rd floor of a Boston tower with dramatic views of the harbor.

Obama was treated to two choruses of “Happy Birthday,” the first by Harry Connick Jr. and his 10-year-old daughter, Kate, and the second by the crowd of about 850 supporters, led by Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic.

Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass) introduced his colleague from Illinois.

“I asked Barack what he wanted for his birthday, and he said three things: Indiana, Colorado and Virginia,” said Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee. “That’s it.”

Obama also opened some presents.

The first was a Red Sox shirt.

“As a White Sox fan, this hurts a little bit,” he said.

The next was . . . a White Sox shirt.

“Here we go. That’s what I’m talking about!” Obama said.

-- Peter Nicholas