Stars Fork Out $2,300 to Get Near Obama

No red carpet, no VIP room, and no real prospect of face time, but even so the hottest ticket in Hollywood last night was the gala for Barack Obama. The benefit for the Democratic party's equivalent of a rock star was expected to raise $1m for his White House run, breaking a sound barrier even in this gilded city.

Being at close quarters with Mr Obama had dozens of A-listers reaching for their cheque books to pay the $2,300 (£1,150) admission. George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston, Barbra Streisand, Eddie Murphy, and Denzel Washington planned to attend.

Other figures expected at the Beverly Hilton included the studio bosses of Fox, Universal, Walt Disney, and Paramount.

Some guests may have also been eager to earn the goodwill of Mr Obama's hosts, the powerful troika behind DreamWorks: Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. While Mr Spielberg is keeping his options open, the other two have endorsed Mr Obama. But only those who manage to sell at least 20 tickets, or raise $46,000 will have the chance for a chat over dinner with Mr Obama at Mr Geffen's mansion after the party.

At $2,300 a head, the maximum contribution allowed to an individual election candidate, there was no lack of takers; the organisers were obliged to move the venue from a restaurant to a ballroom holding 600. The scale underscores the growing importance of Hollywood. Candidates raised $33m from the entertainment industry in the last presidential election.

Mr Obama's rival, Hillary Clinton, will have her night in Hollywood next month. But the New York Senator, once seen as the main beneficiary of Hollywood's largesse, will have a tough act to follow.