Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet tapped the wealth of Hollywood stars to help raise nearly $1.4 million in the first quarter, giving him a huge lead over Republican rivals in his re-election bid.
Singer Barbra Streisand, actor Jack Black and director Steven Spielberg were among the celebrities who gave to Bennet’s campaign in the first three months of the year, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission. Streisand and Black each gave $1,000, while Spielberg donated $2,700.
Other donors in the first quarter included Alan F. Horn, chairman of Disney Studios ($1,700), and actresses Rita Wilson ($500) and Kate Capshaw ($2,700).
The contributions helped boost Bennet's cash on hand to start the second quarter to $7.6 million.
Bennet's race was expected to be one of the most competitive in the country and key to determining whether the GOP retains control of the Senate, because the state's registered voters are evenly divided between Democrats, Republicans and those not affiliated with any party.
So far, however, no leader has emerged from the original list of more than a dozen GOP candidates that has now been whittled down to five.
Former state Rep. Jon Keyser raised more than $300,000 in the first quarter, the most reported so far by any of the Republican challengers.
Of Bennet’s total for the first quarter, individuals gave about $1.05 million, while special interest political action committees donated $268,798.
Three main political prognosticators — the Cook Political Reporter, the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia and the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report — also have the race in the race in the “lean Democrat” category.
