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See also this SHORT EXCERPT from USA Today:

Posted 6/23/2004 6:41 PM
A blessing, and a curse, for Kerry
By Ross K. Baker
Americans would appear to be smitten with celebrities. No longer are the performers of Hollywood and the music world simply stars, but instead "icons," "divas" and even "heroes."
What greater benefit could come to a candidate than to have the most famous and adored faces in America lining up to endorse you?
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has managed, even before officially becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, to secure the support of some of the biggest names in screen acting and popular music. At a concert fundraiser tonight in Los Angeles, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond and Willie Nelson will offer their voices for Kerry's cause. Among other glitterati who plan to attend: Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck and Leonardo DiCaprio.
A New York gala two weeks later will include Whoopi Goldberg and Jon Bon Jovi, among others. The two concerts are expected to rake in at least $10 million for Kerry — critical funds in a political duel with President Bush that will shatter spending records.
But the alliance that Democratic candidates have long established with Hollywood has never been more necessary — or dangerous. Money is driving presidential politics more than at any time in history, and with an evenly divided electorate, a link to Hollywood — or big business, in the president's case — could cost a candidate in the eyes of critical "swing" voters.
No Democratic candidate since George McGovern in 1972 has been backed by such star power. Yet, Democrats should be concerned that Kerry, for all of the high-powered show-business talent, might encounter the same attacks made against McGovern. He'll have to defend himself against the accusation that he was the choice of "limousine liberals" and show-business whackos from La-La Land...
CLICK HERE for the rest of that article