Raising money has always been more difficult for Democrats than it is for Republicans - who have been able to gather funds from big business with the promise of tax cuts.

Clinton changed that by appealing to the big-hitters in the entertainment world - record industry executives, movie moguls and these days, new media magnates.

At a fund-raiser on Saturday guests paid $1,000 each (£667) to get in and $25,000 (£16,685) to stay for dinner - all going to Hillary Clinton's Senate race.

Actors and singers on stage included John Travolta, Shirley MacLaine, Diana Ross, Cher, Melissa Etheridge, Natalie Cole, Luther Vandross, Michael Bolton and Stevie Wonder.

In the audience were newlyweds Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, actors Rod Steiger and Patrick Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, and boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Monday, 14 August, 2000, 15:27 GMT 16:27 UK
Hollywood's Democratic love affair
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/880011.stm