Hollywood Ready for a Fever-Pitch Fundraising for Obama

The perception among Washington media and political establishments that the inflow of cash into Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will be drying off this third quarter, may soon be a wishful and pipedream-as the diva of chat-Oprah Winfrey is about to organize one of the most high-fire breezing fundraising in presidential history for the thoughtful and well loved presidential candidate: Barack Obama in September.

In an email received yesterday from an insider who is in the know of the fever-pitch event, "New donors, a rarefied ball with the queen of celebrities and a chance to glimpse the woman everyone seems to want at least for vice president. This one's hard to top," the email continues, "the most exciting Barack Obama event of the year anywhere."

The anticipation for this event is hitting every corners of Hollywood like an Oscar night; where everyone comes to celebrate in their best glamorous attire and a long night of true Hollywood fashion party.

Ticket for the event starts at $2,300, the cap accepted under federal campaign laws. For those who may want to stick around for inner circle meet-up with the Senator, such a person is required to raise at least $25,000 from other attendees. And those who want to have an intimate dinner with the charismatic presidential candidate; they are required to raise a minimum of $50,000.

One Hollywood insider who is planning to participate in the event said "This is 2007 Oscar night. It can't get any better than this-period."

The talk-show host and an international high-profile philanthropist Oprah Winfrey is going to be opening her renowned Santa Barbara-area super estate to play host to thousands of fans, supporters and who-is-who in the entertainment industry to fundraise for a candidate she called " my guy."

Earlier this year, she was interviewed by Larry King of CNN on why she is openly supporting a presidential candidate for the first time. Her response was borne out of personal knowledge of Obama-a man that has good judgment and sound moral integrity that seems to be a farfetched expectation among political elites of today.

"I think that what he stands for, what he has proven that he can stand for, what he has shown was worth me going out on a limb for and I haven't done it in the past because I haven't felt that anybody-I didn't know anybody well enough to be able to say, I believe in this person,'' Oprah said.

She is not alone in this thinking. George Clooney, who is not new to politicians' affinity to get cash from Hollywood, made similar remark that Obama is a unique politician who gets into a room and you will just follow him.

In an interview on ABC news in the twilight of December last year, the well-loved actor remarked, "He possesses the one quality that you cannot teach and you can't learn.... He is a leader. He walks into a room and you want to follow him somewhere, anywhere. And...I've only seen that a couple of times in my life," George said.

Women voters across the country dearly admired Oprah and she does have millions of staunch followers who will enlist their trust in her judgment. It is in concert with this that Halle Berry told the Philadelphia Daily news that she will do everything to clear the pathway for Mr. Obama.

Oprah Winfrey's endorsement is far better than any other endorsement at this stage of the presidential election where women and independent voters' support are significantly needed.

Hillary Clinton campaign may now be threading on a shaky path as she may no longer bank on the women's support. Yes, women who are part of the establishment may continue to support her, but the overall millions of women who revered the talk-show diva everyday may now be swinging their supports to the blessed candidate by Oprah.

Earlier this week, Elizabeth Edwards questioned Hillary's connectivity with issues affecting women across the country-a sign that the Edwards' campaign is not ready to willfully handout the women votes to Hillary Clinton.

In this year election, politicians' endorsement may not have any significant cavity on the choices that voters will make in 2008. A known example is the former governor of Iowa, Tom Vilsack who endorsed Hillary Clinton; yet, all his former supporters are swinging between Obama and Edwards. She is lagging behind Edwards in Iowa even with the former governor's support. There is also a speculation that she paid the governor over $90,000 for his endorsement.

According to well respectful political scholars, endorsement from high profile and respectful citizens that have flocks of followers may probably be the change factor in this current political dispensation.

Voters across the country don't expect the beneficiaries of the establishment candidate to forgo their weary mandarin to support a change candidate who may not play ball with them---the politics as usual tactic-where they milked the country to the marrow of their corporate greed.