Plan B Forum

As political fundraisers go, it's set to be an "Avengers"-sized blockbuster

150 wealthy Democrats will dine with President Barack Obama at George Clooney's Studio City home on Thursday night.

Organisers expect to gross $15 million from the party for the president's re-election campaign - the highest amount ever raised at such an event.

High-profile guests including Robert Downey Jr., Tobey Maguire, Barbra Streisand, director-producer J.J. Abrams, producer Nina Jacobson, Creative Artists Agency partner Bryan Lourd and ICM President Chris Silbermann are attending the dinner, which was organized by DreamWorks Animation Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg and his political adviser, Andy Spahn.

Advertisement: Story continues below But the Hollywood VIPs paying $40,000 a ticket will account for just over one-third of Obama's haul Thursday night; the rest is coming from members of the general public lured by an online contest that has astutely leveraged Clooney and Obama's joint star power.

Tens of thousands of Americans have contributed donations averaging $23 each for a chance to win a ticket to the soiree.

Two winners and their guests will attend the party, where the president is expected to discuss policy in the low-key environment of Clooney's canyon home over a dinner catered by Wolfgang Puck.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/obamas-cool ... z1uR2lxevl

which was organized by DreamWorks Animation Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg and his political adviser, Andy Spahn.