Hollywood's Obama Panic: Who's Doing the Most to Help the President?

This story first appeared in the Nov. 2 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

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Jeffrey Katzenberg

Figures released Oct. 20 show the DreamWorks Animation CEO has given $3 million to the pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA in addition to raising millions for the president’s re-election campaign. If Priorities shows a huge late fund-raising surge, credit Hollywood’s top Barack Obama supporter.

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Eva Longoria

The actress actively is campaigning and constantly tweeting support, though not without controversy. She angered Mitt Romney supporters by retweeting a quote calling him “racist” and “misogynistic.” (She later deleted it and apologized.)

Bruce Springsteen

When Obama began losing ground in swing states, the rocker played concerts in Ohio, Iowa and Virginia. “Right now, there is a fight going on to help make this a fairer and more equitable nation,” he wrote.

Steven Spielberg

In addition to giving $1 million to Priorities USA in September, the filmmaker -- long known for counseling Democratic candidates on how to capture an audience -- is said to be a driving force behind the campaign's decision to make Romney's time at Bain Capital a key issue.

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Katy Perry

After her Oct. 7 performance at Obama’s 30 Days to Victory concert in Los Angeles helped raise millions, the singer agreed to an encore Oct. 24 at a Las Vegas rally with the president. Perry took to Twitter to explain that she was singing for Obama “because I believe in Equal Rights #ForAll #Vote.”

James Taylor

The singer has performed at Obama fund-raisers from Parkland, Fla., to Dallas. On Oct. 10, he headlined a thank-you concert for campaign volunteers in North Carolina. “I just believe in my heart that this is what will make the difference in this election,” he told the crowd before launching into “Carolina in My Mind.”

Barbra Streisand

She’s on tour, but the singer e-mailed Democrats on Oct. 18 asking for cash for the party’s congressional races. “We’re just weeks from the most important election in a generation, and every single thing Democrats like you and I spent a lifetime fighting for is on the line,” wrote Streisand to donors. “We can’t let it happen.”

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John Legend

He has headlined Obama concerts nationwide. As polls showed Romney surging, Legend urged his 4 million Twitter followers Oct. 22 to read Nate Silver’s 538 blog, which showed the president winning. “All these election polls can have your head spinning. My advice for stability and sanity: Just read the 538 blog,” he tweeted.

Cher

The singer-actress has been less active than usual, but as the race narrowed, on Oct. 22 she launched into one of her Twitter rants: “on way 2 Gym.Tonight is final debate & I’m praying Obama Kicks mittens ass 2 the curb!”

Daniel Craig

The British Skyfall actor might not be able to vote in the U.S., but that didn’t stop him from backing Obama. “I like that man a lot,” said Craig in an Oct. 19 interview. “I respect him. I trust him. I’m not hiding the fact that I support him. If I had to throw my support behind either candidate, it would be Obama.” Hard to argue with James Bond.