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Politics

Obama makes a Hollywood sweep

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published February 21, 2007

LOS ANGELES - Checks from Hollywood's A-list stars such as George Clooney, Eddie Murphy and Barbra Streisand were expected to add up to a one-night take of $1-million for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Three of the entertainment industry's biggest names - DreamWorks studio founders Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen - planned a private Beverly Hills fundraiser for the freshman senator from Illinois.

Before the fundraiser, Obama addressed a crowd at a South Los Angeles park, talking of a political system he said is failing the country and a slash-and-burn political culture he said stands in the way of significant change.

With the support of the electorate, Obama said, he could work to resolve such issues as an unpopular war in Iraq and health and public education systems he said leave too many people behind. "We can do all these things. I can't do it without you," Obama told the audience of several thousand.

The lineup of celebrities writing checks for Obama was a red carpet who's who - Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington and Ben Stiller, among others.

Tickets to the fundraiser cost $2,300, the maximum individual donation to a federal campaign, or $4,600 for a couple.

Fundraisers who brought in at least $46,000 for the evening were invited to a private dinner at Geffen's home.

Clinton visits Miami

MIAMI - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton chose Liberty City on Tuesday to make her first public appearance in Florida as a presidential candidate, signaling that she won't forfeit black voters to Democratic rival Obama. She set an informal tone at the Joseph Caleb Community Center, fielding questions from community activists. After the hourlong community meeting, Clinton also was off to Hollywood for two receptions.

[Last modified February 21, 2007, 05:48:29]