Obama cleans up in Hollywood

By Stone Martindale Feb 21, 2007, 4:13 GMT

Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama is greeted by supporters during his rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sunday 18 February 2007. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

The energetic Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama, is expected to haul in a whopping $1 million at a star-studded fundraiser tonight that shows off the powerful results that a good public speaker can wield over a hungry audience.

Despite his lack of experience, his ability to communicate and think on his feet is a welcome change for a nation starved for competent leadership.

But will it come in the form of Barack Hussein Obama?  Will Americans elect the junior Senator?

The star studded event was organized by Hollywood's Dream Team, Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen.

The lineup of celebrities writing Obama big checks inlcuded actors George Clooney, Ben Stiller, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy and once a supporter of Hillary, Barbra Streisand, reported the AP.

But Spielberg, despite being a host of the Obama event -  has not made an official endorsement. Katzenberg and Geffen are on record backing Obama.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who has ties to the movie industry, is looking over her shoulder.

"I think this guy is for real," said Democratic consultant Garry South, who is unaligned in the 2008 race. "I was skeptical at first, but something is going on here. Whether it can sustain itself remains to be seen," reports Michael Blood for the AP.

California is a strange mix of conservative financial values, forward thinking environmental stances and liberal personal outlooks. 

Republicans so far have Mormon Mitt Romney, not so favored because of his religion, 9-11 hero Rudy Giuliani and war hero Arizona Sen. John McCain as the leads in their party.

The AP reports that Obama, 45, had fundraisers in posh La Jolla, near San Diego, on Sunday, and told a crowd in San Francisco on Monday that "the Iraq war had made the country less safe."

Checks for Obama have been received by Paramount Pictures studio chief Brad Grey, Richard Cook, chairman of Walt Disney Studios, and Ron Meyer of Universal Studios.