Thursday, January 25, 2007
Hollywood throws party for ObamaWASHINGTON (AP) -- Hollywood moguls Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen are throwing a fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign next month.
Some 700 invitations to the $2,300-per-head event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel went out this week, Andy Spahn, political adviser to Katzenberg and Spielberg, said Thursday. Katzenberg, Spielberg and Geffen are the founders of the DreamWorks movie studio.
Katzenberg has endorsed Obama, but Spielberg, a longtime supporter of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, hasn't made up his mind. Geffen also has not publicly endorsed a candidate.
"There are many people in this community who will support multiple candidates, but this certainly is evidence off the serious credibility and strength of Obama's candidacy," said Spahn, rejecting the suggestion the fundraiser was a slight to Clinton.
As president, Bill Clinton had a famously affectionate relationship with Hollywood, and the goodwill -- and deep pockets -- transferred to Sen. Clinton. Celebrities such as Barbra Streisand,
Jennifer Lopez and Chris Rock donated to her Senate races in 2000 and 2006.
Clinton spokesman Phil Singer didn't comment directly on the Obama event.
"The response to Senator Clinton's announcement from throughout the country has been extraordinary," he said by e-mail. "We're confident we're going to raise the resources we need to mount a winning and effective campaign."
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/01/hollywood-throws-party-for-obama.html