Four years ago when President Obama went to Hollywood to shore up support, it was men like George Clooney, Alec Baldwin and Robert Downey Jr. who got in line. But the boys' club could only be closed for so long. This time around it's the women who are pushing the envelope. And people are listening.
The conservative view on reproductive health has sparked uncertainty in many young female voters - including celebrities. As a consequence, the Democratic party is making a concerted effort to reach out to women. And Hollywood's leading ladies are at the forefront of that charge.
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This week Gwyneth Paltrow showed her support by hosting a fundraiser at the swanky Mark's Club in London. The ritzy affair had a hefty price tag of $15,000 per ticket. But that was just a drop in the bucket for heavy hitters like Vogue editor Anna Wintour and actress Cameron Diaz.
Not to be outdone, Scarlett Johansson spoke forcefully at the Democratic National Convention. Dressed in a simple gray blazer and white tee with an American flag, Scarlett talked in a relatable way that was hard to ignore: "My girlfriends from high school to this day still depend on Planned Parenthood and often by Text-Enhance" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/scarlett-johansson-dnc-speech_n_1862936.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Medicaid for important health care services."
Co-chair of the Obama re-election campaign Eva Longoria has long been a supporter of the President. The actress, who is an outspoken advocate of Latino and women's rights, has been speaking loudly and clearly.
After talking at the Women for Obama summit she switched gears for the DNC. There she appealed to young voters through the lens of education and fair opportunity in America. "We're lucky our president understands the value of American opportunity, because he's lived it!" she said. "And he's fighting to help others achieve it."
