Hollywood stars line up for Obama

SILICON VALLEY: Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama raised over $ 5 million for his campaign during his first encounter with Hollywood's bigwigs in Los Angeles.
    
At a high-profile event attended by some 900 celebrities, studio executives, producers, directors and other well-moneyed people on Tuesday, supporters of the 47-year-old Senator from Illinois and New York Senator Hillary Clinton sat together, vowing to fight the upcoming poll unitedly.
    
It was Obama's first trip to the city since Clinton conceded defeat this month in the battle for the Democratic nomination.
    
Although Obama's staff declined to give exact numbers, organisers estimated that the event raised more than $ 5 million, which will be divided between the Democratic National Committee and his presidential campaign. The money included about 200 seats that cost $28,500 per couple.
    
An additional 700 people paid as much as $2,300 each to attend the reception, Los Angeles Times reported.
    
Donors had toasted almonds and truffle oil; tuna tartare with passion fruit ponzu and macadamia nut on wonton crisp; beef short rib skewers.
    
Many guests -- who were deeply split between Obama and Clinton during the primaries and caucuses -- said they hoped to send a strong message: that even those who had sided with Clinton during the primary, were standing firm with Obama, who aspires to be the first black-American president.
    
"In the primary, you fight hard and then you have to come together," said producer Lawrence Bender, one of Obama's early Hollywood supporters. "This was a real unifying event."
    
"The Hillary supporters may have blustered a little, but they're not going to vote for McCain," said actress and writer Heather Thomas.