danefergus: Obama Campaign Looking For Assists From Jay-Z, Fergie?

Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Obama Campaign Looking For Assists From Jay-Z, Fergie?

President's re-election campaign also reportedly wants will.i.am, Adam Levine and other celebs on his team.
By Gil Kaufman

Barack Obama
Photo: FilmMagic

The first time Barack Obama ran for president, he had help from a wide range of celebrities that included Ben Affleck, Jamie Foxx, 50 Cent, Oprah Winfrey and director Michael Moore.

This time, according to a "wish list" of celebrity endorsers circulated to a group of campaign donors that was reportedly obtained by The Tennessean newspaper, a lot of the same names are in the mix (Jay-Z, John Legend, Alicia Keys), along with other big-name acts such as Vampire Weekend, Janelle Monáe and Maroon 5's Adam Levine.

Though most of the focus has been on the cutthroat battle among the Republicans vying for the GOP presidential nomination, as MTV's Power of 12 campaign has chronicled, Obama is facing an uphill battle for a second term, and with the nation still mired in an economic slump, he's going to need all of the help he can get.

MTV News had not heard back from a spokesperson for the Obama campaign at press time, but a look at the reported wish list makes it clear he's got his eye on some major players to help secure a second term. The list posted by the newspaper is broad, from such committed supporters as will.i.am and Jessica Alba, to boxer Laila Ali, Marc Anthony, the Arcade Fire, India.Arie, Sara Bareilles, Jigga, Chelsea Clinton, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell, Fergie, America Ferrera, Jamie Foxx and Whoopi Goldberg.

Other names on the list include: Al Green, Josh Groban, Neil Patrick Harris, Anne Hathaway, Jack Johnson, the Jonas Brothers, Jewel, Mila Kunis, Blake Lively, Ricky Martin, "Glee" star Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Pine, B.o.B, Regina Spektor, the Band Perry, the Roots, Train, Kate Walsh and Wilco. The list was reportedly sent out December 5 and was not intended for public distribution, but when their name popped up on it, country trio Lady Antebellum told Entertainment Weekly that they were not getting involved in politics this year.

"The members of Lady Antebellum did not submit their name for inclusion on the surrogate list for Obama's campaign," the band's publicist said in a statement to the magazine. "The band has never commented on their political affiliations nor do they plan to in the future."

Check back here around the clock for up-to-the-minute coverage on the primary caucuses and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season.

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