Hollywood: Breaking Up With Obama and Back With Hillary?

I'm a liberal. And I live in Hollywood. So why do I always feel at odds with liberal Hollywood? Today, the LA Times is reporting that Hillary Clinton's presidential bid is beginning to gain momentum over Barack Obama's among the entertainment industy's elite.

In fact, it's become so strong that Steven Spielberg, once considered a solid supporter of Illinois Democrat Obama, is now believed to be leaning in favor of Clinton, according to longtime industry politicos. (Spielberg's political spokesman, Andy Spahn, was coy this week when asked about Spielberg's political thinking. "We have nothing to announce," Spahn said, but stay tuned.)

But behind the scenes, the signs are pretty clear. Last week, Clinton cruised through town raising a cool $1.1 million in one day. At a celebrity-studded reception at News Corp. President Peter Chernin's house -- an event co-hosted by Spielberg and television financier Haim Saban -- Clinton brought in $850,000. (Chernin's boss, Rupert Murdoch, currently bidding to take over the Wall Street Journal, is a political conservative who sometimes gives to Democratic candidates.) Even super-agent Ari Emanuel, who is one of Obama's top industry supporters, wrote a check to Clinton.

If the recent past is any indication, Hollywood ties seem to hinder candidates more than help them at the polls (just ask George Clooney's dad). But I'd like to see Obama with plenty of loot for his war chest. Here's to hoping that he'll inspire check writing when he comes back to LA later this month.

[Photo credit: Brendan McDermid/Reuters]