Sunday, July 15, 2007

"Which Candidates the Stars Take a Shine to" (UPDATED)


UPDATE (Red Carpet Dept.): After sifting through the latest FEC report, The Chicago Sun Times reports the following "prominent" people made contributions to Bill Richardson:

Steven Spielberg -Director
Edward James Olmos - Actor
Kate Capshaw - Actress
Paul Newman - Actor
Christie Brinkley - Model
Jason Alexander - Actor
James L. Brooks - Producer & Director
Bette Midler - Actress
Whoopi Goldberg - Actress, Comedian
William Friedkin - Director, Screenwriter
Sherry Lansing - Former CEO of Paramount and wife of Director William Friedkin.

WaPo:
Paul Simon stumped across Iowa with Chris Dodd 10 days ago, marking the official start to the 2008 Celebrity Primary season; earlier Steven Spielberg endorsed Hillary Clinton, while his fellow Hollywood titan David Geffen shifted his support to Barack Obama. Here's the first in an occasional look at how the stars are coming out in the '08 presidential race:

* Jennifer Aniston: $2,300 contribution to Barack Obama.

* Hank Azaria ("Huff," voice of many "Simpsons" characters): Co-hosted an L.A. fundraiser for John Edwards.

* George Clooney: Vows support for Obama to Time magazine. ("I've actually had that conversation with him, just saying, 'Look, I'll give you whatever support you need -- including staying completely away from you.' ")

* Matt Damon: Also tells Time of his support for Obama. ("I think a lot of the problems in the world would be mitigated if he were the face of our country.")

* James Denton ("Desperate Housewives"): Will co-host a fundraiser for Edwards.

* "Babyface" Edmonds: Performed at a Clinton rally in D.C., along with "American Idol's" Katherine McPhee.

* Danny Glover: Stumped with Edwards in South Carolina, endorsed him. ("This is a campaign about real democracy.")

* Kelsey Grammer: $2,300 contribution to Rudy Giuliani.

* Casey Kasem (of "American Top 40"): $250 contribution to Dennis Kucinich.

* Adam Levine, lead singer of Maroon 5: Declares to a Las Vegas radio station that Clinton is "a classy lady."

* Edward Norton: Tells Entertainment Weekly that Obama makes him "want to fight the good fights."

* Alan Osmond (eldest member of the family singing group): $2,300 contribution to Mitt Romney.

* Adam Sandler: $2,100 contribution to Giuliani.

* Susan Sarandon: $1,000 contribution to Obama.

* Michael W. Smith, Grammy-winning Christian singer: Endorsed Sam Brownback.

* Etan Thomas, Wizards center: Told a local interviewer"I'll be working with the Obama '08 presidential campaign."

* Randy Travis: $2,300 contribution to Bill Richardson.

* Chuck Yeager: Rousing endorsement of Duncan Hunter ("the only candidate who has the best of Ronald Reagan's character and politics").

Barbra Streisand, Democratic stalwart: Still on the fence -- has given $2,300 each to Clinton, Obama, Edwards; $1,000 to Dodd.

Bruce Willis, former Republican stalwart: Still undecided, told Vanity Fair his priority is free medical care for GIs. ("I'm waiting to see who's going to shake out as a candidate . . . and I'm going to say, 'I want you to make this issue part of your platform.' ")

Stephen Baldwin (one of the more prominent Hollywood types at the '04 Republican National Convention): "He's focused on his ministry and not on the political field yet," said a rep.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: Courted by many candidates; no endorsement yet. "They are looking at voting records and carefully following what the candidates are proposing on the issues that are the focus of their philanthropy and advocacy," said a rep.

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