LOS ANGELES – Hillary Clinton is extremely popular in Hollywood, having raised millions of dollars and been invited to the homes of Christina Aguilera, Tobey Maguire and Barbra Streisand, just to name a few. However, this election season, another group of A-listers including Will Ferrell, Danny DeVito and Mark Ruffalo are backing her rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
One celeb, the star of “Mom,” Mimi Kennedy, is an avid Sanders supporter. In June she held a fundraiser for the presidential candidate at her LA home with about 200 people. She told FOX411 why she believes Sanders connects with Hollywood.
“All of the leadership qualities Hillary has to lead Bernie has—except her gender—and one might say a roster of corporate and very wealthy supporters,” Kennedy told FOX411. “And I don’t fault Hillary for that, but I think that’s why Bernie resonates. Hollywood, even the richest of us, probably began as creative artists and want equality.”
Democratic strategist Joe Trippi points out that celebrities supporting the most liberal candidate is nothing new.
“It’s not unusual at all for any number of Hollywood celebs to support the most liberal candidate in the field,” he said.
Comedian Sarah Silverman was one of the first to introduce Sanders to a Hollywood crowd at the L.A. Sports Arena in August. Then in October, Seth MacFarlane, the “Family Guy” creator, endorsed Sanders at a Hollywood fundraiser in October. But Republican strategist Tony Sayegh doesn’t think the surge of Hollywood supporters will ultimately make a difference in the Sanders campaign.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily going to lead to a major political advantage to Bernie Sanders because I think there are so many inherit flaws in his campaign,” Sayegh said. “It would be hard to overcome; but it’s going to keep alive this challenge from the left that Hillary will have to contend with.”
According to The Los Angeles Times, entertainment donors have contributed $5 million to the 2016 presidential campaign. Sanders’ website includes DeVito, Ferrell, Silverman, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers as several who have endorsed the presidential hopeful. Clinton has Aguilera, Kim Kardashian, Vera Wang and Scooter Braun backing her campaign.
“Sanders has some strong support but it’s unlikely to help him mount much of a challenge to Hillary Clinton,” Trippi said. “The GOP has the House and the Senate and most Democrats are not willing to risk losing the White House too no matter who their favorite celebs are supporting.”
Kennedy, however, believes Sanders will be able to maintain his Hollywood support.
“It’s based on attraction, not loyalty. Bernie doesn’t bully you into being loyal to him. Bernie just does what he thinks and then you are attracted by it," she said. "It’s more a freedom and I think that’s another reason why celebrities like him.”
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