Obama raises a lot of green in Oprah's meadow

Santa Barbara

Over the years, dozens of celebrities and authors have been the happy beneficiaries of what Hollywood likes to call "the Oprah effect."

Saturday, it was Barack Obama's turn to enjoy billionaire chat diva Oprah Winfrey's favor, as a stunning cross section of the country's entertainment and sports elite gathered in "the meadow" of her sprawling Montecito estate to raise money for the junior Illinois senator seeking the Democrats' presidential nomination.

Californians have contributed more to Obama's presidential campaign than Democrats in any other state, including his own. With the support of industry heavyweights, such as David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg, Obama tapped the Golden State for $4.2 million from April through June.

All of the $2,300-a-head tickets to Saturday's event were sold as soon as they were offered to a select group of Democratic and entertainment industry activists, which means that Obama's campaign took in about $3 million more.

The event underscored the political power of Hollywood's African American community. It was put together by a black woman, who parlayed her start as a local TV news anchor into a talk-show career that has made her a figure whose influence transcends racial and class lines.

The overwhelmingly African American crowd included distinguished senior figures, including basketball superstar Bill Russell and Academy Award-winning actor Sidney Poitier, and younger stars, including Holly Robinson Peete and cutting-edge comedian Chris Rock. Motown's Stevie Wonder provided the entertainment, singing his hits from the '70s and '80s.

Inside the gates of Winfrey's palatial seaside getaway, what some feared would be a starched, formal affair took on the air of a relaxed family reunion or, as one guest put it, "a free concert." Winfrey's staff had sent out memos to ticket buyers urging them to wear "garden" attire and warning women not to wear heels that would sink into the meadow.

Most of the women though, dressed for a chic cocktail party and wore heels, which many kicked off to dance on the grass. (Winfrey danced too when Wonder started to sing.)

Guests spread their complimentary green-and-white "Obama '08" blankets on the lawn to drink, chat and listen to the music. Others lined up to have their pictures taken with Obama, his wife and Winfrey.

The hostess -- dressed in an olive blouse and long, white skirt -- seemed to enjoy the occasion as much as her guests and mingled with the crowd throughout the afternoon.