Barbra Streisand, the famous singer who was being discovered by radio stations back when someone named Barack Obama was being born, confirms to The Ticket this afternoon that she's supporting Obama and has offered to help in his presidential campaign. Streisand's personal spokeswoman, Marge Tabankin, says talks are underway with the campaign in Chicago to decide what exact role Streisand will play in the presumptive Democratic nominee's efforts to win the White House.
Obama’s Hollywood supporters are hopeful that she will sing for the senator, as she did for Bill Clinton during his presidential runs, at one of the many fundraisers in the works for this summer.
So far, Tabankin says, nothing definite is confirmed. But stay tuned. (Sorry, Streisand isn’t set to appear at the fundraiser/concert for Obama at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on June 24. Her schedule, at the moment, shows that she’s traveling that day.)
In addition to lending her legendary pipes, Streisand’s support is important to Obama for several reasons: She’s a woman, in case you hadn't notice and she’s a longtime friend of the Clintons, who lost. (remember, in case you're tracking these things, Streisand came out early for Hillary.)
And the singer is Jewish. So she could potentially help rally support among a number of Democratic constituencies.
People who need people may be the luckiest people in the world. But candidates with Streisand’s backing have hit the Democratic fundraising jackpot. West of La Cienega, anyway.
--Tina Daunt
