Streisand plumps for Hillary
Updated on 03 December 2007
Tis the season to be jolly, and the celebrities are being dragged out in force to add a tinge of glamour to the US election campaigns.
After weeks of mild weather the streets of New York are pristine under a thick blanket of snow - but the dirty business of politics goes on, unabated.
America's fundraising scandals are far juicier than our own, of course, and Republican frontrunner Rudi Giuliani is having to fend off allegations that he billed thousand of dollars worth of travel and security expenses linked to his then mistress, Judith Nathan, to obscure city agencies in New York.
It all dates back to 1999, when the former Mayor was still married to Donna Hanover, who he famously broke up with via a press conference on TV.
He's being accused of effectively hiding various expenses from oversight by scattering them among a bunch of city departments. The expenses include overtime and per diems for city officials who travelled with him to secret weekend liaisons with Ms Nathan in the exclusive Hamptons resorts on Long Island.
Plus, according to ABC News, Mr Giuliani used a police car and driver to ferry his mistress around. As one official puts it "she was using the Police Department as her personal taxi service".
On the Democratic side at least it's being dubbed the "battle of the divas".
Mr Giuliani has denied any cover up, insisting it's all a hit job in advance of the Republicans' next big debate. He says the expenses were billed that way to speed up delayed Amex card payments - although New York's police chief is dubious about that.
So far, his rivals have declined to make much political capital out of the allegations but as the first primaries draw ever nearer personal attacks between all of them are ramping up.
Obama's campaign has been noticably snappier - and John Edwards' latest speech rails against those who've spent millions of dollars and decades to perpetuate what he calls a 'wall around Washington'.
But on a more festive note - tis the season to be jolly, and the celebrities are being dragged out in force to add a tinge of glamour to the campaigns.
On the Democratic side at least it's being dubbed the "battle of the divas" as the celebs' celeb Oprah announced she was campaigning for Barack Obama.
'In all the time I have worked to help elect Democrats, I have never wanted to win an election as badly as this one.'Barbara Streisand on Hillary Clinton's campaign
Now Hillary Clinton's team are hitting back, recruiting a superstar of their own to boost their ratings. Into my mailbox last week popped a missive from Barbra Streisand - after funding several of the candidates first off, she's finally plumped for Hillary.
"In all the time I have worked to help elect Democrats, I have never wanted to win an election as badly as this one," she says.
"I want a president who is principled, strong, and ready to lead from day one. That's why I'm joining Hillary's campaign - because I think she has what it takes to beat the Republicans and to be a great president."
Ever the slick professionals - team Hillary have done actual opinion polling to chart the effect of Barbra's endorsement.
"Among Democratic primary voters, even in places like Iowa, they love Barbra," gushes one pollster. "By the way, she's just sold out concerts around the world. And she's great for fund raising."
So there. Bookclub, schmookclub. Who needs Oprah anyway?
The trees are decorated, the Christmas lights are on - and Iowa is shivering under a blast of ice storms. But the rival campaigns certainly aren't getting cosy just yet.
