Hollywood Money Figures Heavily in President Obama's Reelection Campaign

President Barack Obama's reelection campaign offered a preliminary peak at its fund-raising sources Friday and -- sketchy though the picture may be -- it's clear just how big a part Hollywood is going to play in the coming race for the White House.our editor recommendsPresident Obama to Return to Los Angeles for Fundraising Gala (Exclusive)Jeffrey Katzenberg Organizing Elite Fundraising Event for ObamaJeffrey Katzenberg, J.J. Abrams Leading the Charge of Hollywood's Super PAC Spenders The figures released this week were for so-called "bundlers" -- people, usually big givers themselves, who persuade wealthy friends and associates to give and, then, aggregate all those contributions for a particular candidate, in this case the incumbent chief executive. Among the Industry or entertainment-connected heavy weights who already have bundled $500,000 or more for Obama are Jeffrey Katzenberg, Ken Solomon, Andy Spahn, Harvey Weinstein, John Emerson and Noah Mamet. Colleen Bell and Jamie Lynton have bundled $200,000 and $500,000 on Obama's behalf. Ari Emanuel already has put together between $100,000 and $200,000 for the president's reelection, as have Kerman Maddox, Clarence Avant, Mel Levine and Michael Lynton. PHOTOS: 10 Hollywood Players That Will Make a Difference in the 2012 Elections Bundlers are likely to play a more important role than ever because of the advent of so-called super PACs, which -- as long as they operate independently of a candidate's actual campaign committee -- can spend an unlimited amount of money to support a candidacy. This will be the first presidential election in which the super PACs are active and they seem bound to amplify the bundlers' role and influence, since someone with a circle of deep-pocketed friends and associates can go back to them repeatedly as the campaign heats up. There's no limit on how much the wealthy can give--and wealthy Hollywood has a history and culture of political giving. Look for the names on this list to turn up again and again on the political donation reports. Related Topics Barack Obama Harvey Weinstein Jeffrey Katzenberg Politics