Obama Watch-African American Express

AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPRESS
Barack Obama told Hillary Rodham Clinton's top financial backers Thursday that he personally has donated $2,300 to her campaign and more significantly has asked his biggest donors to help pay off her more than $20 million debt.

Obama made the announcement at a meeting with Clinton donors who have been frustrated that the Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting had not done more to help her pay the bills even as they are expected to help fund his campaign.

Three Clinton confidants -- Cheryl Mills, Minyon Moore and Robert Barnett -- are in talks with Obama's campaign to work out details of her future involvement, including travel, her role at the national convention and resolution of her more than $20 million debt. Part of their argument is that Clinton can spend more time helping Obama if she isn't raising money to pay her bills.

Clinton's debt includes $12 million of her own money. She has said she is not asking for help to pay back that portion.

Some Clinton supporters, including some of those at Thursday's fundraiser meeting, have been frustrated with Obama's efforts to help Clinton with her debt while they are raising even more money for him. In response, the Illinois senator has asked five of his top donors to coordinate an effort to do so.

Finance chair Penny Pritzker said Wednesday in an e-mail to Obama's national finance committee "Barack has asked each of us to collect five or six checks to help Senator Clinton repay the people who provided goods and services to her campaign he made this request in the spirit of party unity."

Clinton and Obama plan to appear together for the first time since the end of the primary on Friday in symbolic Unity, N.H. -- where each got 107 votes in the state's January primary. Clinton won New Hampshire in an upset that set the stage for their long campaign, and it is now a critical battleground for the general election.

GOOD MUSIC

Rolling Stone asked Barack Obama what's on his iPod. His personal playlist includes ...Jay-Z, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Yo-Yo Ma

"I have pretty eclectic tastes," the Democratic presidential contender said in an interview to be published in Friday's issue of Rolling Stone.

Asked what he thought of rap, Obama said hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and rappers Jay-Z and Ludacris were "great talents and great businessmen." Obama said "the genre has broken down barriers within the music world" though he's concerned about his daughters Malia, 9, and Sasha, 7. "I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics it would be nice if I could have my daughters listen to their music without me worrying that they were getting bad images of themselves,"he said, "but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music."

BARACK IN HOLLYWOOD

Will Smith said he'd be willing to sign on to an Obama biopic, according to mtv.com. Smith suggested his large ears would fit the character of the presidential hopeful.

"That's the key," Smith said. "America loves ears, you know? Mickey Mouse started it; Goofy and Dumbo followed behind."

SOURCE CHICAGO TRIBUNE