Hollywood comes out for Hillary

"Thank you J-Lo!"

Some interesting news came through yesterday about Hillary Clinton's Senate re-election campaign. Certain members of Hollywood have emerged to openly support her for re-election in New York. Of course, we know Hollywood has a long history of strong support for the Democrats, as well as for left-wing politics. But, from what I've read in the past, many members of the American showbusiness have been reluctant to come out openly rooting for Hillary - primarily a result of her support for the Iraq war and her refusal to support the proposal of a deadline for the withdrawal of troops. This is one area that we could say she is perhaps more a centrist politician, as opposed to the distinct liberal she is on issues like abortion and the feminist movement. (She was booed during a recent address she gave to Democrat supporters, when she announced her opposition to the idea of an immediate withdrawal.)

American media printed the names of some well-known financial donors to the Clinton camp, which included

Tom Hanks
Jennifer Lopez
Owen Wilson
Chris Rock
Bette Midler
James Caan
Rob Reiner
Billy Crystal

I suppose it isn't really all that surprising. Hollywood will almost always support a Democrat over a Republican, and Clinton seems to have done a good job in NY as Senator. But does it indicate the beginning of a Hollywood-backed Clinton presidential candidacy, despite the division over Iraq?

So far in this 2006 "election cycle", Hillary has spent $US21.7 million - even with the TV ads having not yet begun. It's a pretty grotesque amount of money, and the election itself - which she should win comfortably - is not until November.