Obama's war chest filled with Hollywood gold (DNC Keynote Speaker)

AP via Daily Southtown ^ | July 17, 2004 | Dennis Conrad

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama, the U.S. Senate candidate from Chicago who has become the Democratic Party's latest rising star, is drawing enough support from the entertainment industry to put on his own variety show. From comedian Chris Rock to singer Barbra Streisand to musician Herbert Hancock, entertainers have written out checks of $1,000 or $2,000 to help the 42-year-old Illinois state senator win the seat being vacated by retiring GOP Sen. Peter Fitzgerald.

Film directors Rob Reiner ("The American President") and Edward Zwick ("The Last Samurai" and "Courage Under Fire") both contributed in the past three months, according to Obama's latest quarterly campaign finance report filed with federal election authorities.

So did David Geffen, co-founder of the DreamWorks movie studio, and Berry Gordy, the founder of the Motown music empire that included Diana Ross and The Supremes and Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5.

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith, songwriter Tom Lehrer, opera singer Samuel Ramey and Boston conductor Charles Ansbacher all added to the Obama campaign war chest.

Since he trounced a crowded Democratic primary field in March, Obama has drawn the attention of national media, and presidential candidate John Kerry this week named him to be keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention later this month.

"Obama has clearly established himself an eloquent messenger, and people have taken notice — not only in Illinois," said his campaign spokesman, Julian Green, citing such topics as jobs and affordable health care. "His message is striking chords with people across the United States, including celebrities."

Obama, a Harvard graduate and a lecturer at the University of Chicago law school, would be only the third black since Reconstruction to serve in the U.S. Senate if elected.

Right now, he has no Republican challenger.

Illinois Republican officials are still searching for a replacement for Jack Ryan, their millionaire nominee who announced his withdrawal from the race three weeks ago.

Ryan's campaign collapsed after the former investment banker's divorce papers became public revealing embarrassing allegations that he took his wife, "Boston Public" actress Jeri Ryan, to sex clubs before they split up. Ryan has yet to file papers to have his name removed from the ballot, but he told CNN on Friday, "I can't envision a circumstance under which I get back in the race."

The Republicans have tried to recruit their own star power — former Bears coach Mike Ditka — but Ditka declined this week, the latest in a string of refusals, including from former governors and other party stalwarts who might have had the name recognition or money to mount a challenge with less than four months to campaign.

Obama's contribution report for the quarter that ended June 30 showed he took in more than $4 million and had $3.37 million left as of July 1. He has raised more than $10 million since he started campaigning.

The money also has rolled in from the rich and famous in law and literature, including famed defense attorney Johnnie Cochran and Chicago author Scott Turow.

Still, the overwhelming share of Obama's contributions has come from lawyers, physicians, business leaders and the financial industry.

Ben Cohen, CEO of Ben & Jerry's in Vermont, gave $2,000 last month. Among the biggest donors have been Nicholas J. Pritzker, the chairman of the board of Hyatt Development Corp., and investor Robert Soros of the Soros Fund. Both have given $14,000 each, including $2,000 each in the last quarter.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Sad. Interesting about the Pritzker of the Hyatt Corp. Is there a FReeper boycott of Hyatt Hotels?

[virgil]

Everybody I talk to about this is very angry about how Jack Ryan was treated. I hope for a backlash, but I don't think it will be enough to stop the machine. This is the end of representative gov't in Illinois. Think about leaving.