Barack Obama is no longer the Hollywood star he used to be

Barack Obama arrived in Hollywood four years ago with a star-studded fund-raiser on Oprah Winfrey’s lawn that featured Stevie Wonder in an event that helped to propel him to the White House.

But Obama’s return to the West Coast on Monday is much less glamourous, reflecting how much his star has waned. Instead of Winfrey’s house, he will be at the less glamourous House of Blues nightclub on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip with the rap singer B.O.B., a disc-jockey called Adam 12 and The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. Tickets for the event, hosted by a sitcom actor, have been available for just $250.

In his first presidential campaign, Obama found nothing but generous friends and open chequebooks. But some of those wealthy supporters now feel frustrated by what they see as lack of progress on issues including the environment, gay rights, withdrawal from Afghanistan and closing Guantanamo Bay. His campaign team is aiming to raise $7 million from his three-day swing along the West Coast. A string of other big name backers from four years ago have yet to donate at all. They include Matt Damon, who has been perhaps the most critical of Obama’s A-list friends.

Damon said: “I think he misinterpreted his mandate. A friend of mine said to me the other day, and I thought it was a great line, ‘I no longer hope for audacity’.” Robert Redford also expressed his disillusionment with the president on issues including Arctic drilling and clean air.