Obama pays tribute to Clinton at Hollywood fundraiser

LOS ANGELES (AFP) Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama stole the show at a star-studded fundraiser here Tuesday, paying fulsome praise to former rival Hillary Clinton and mocking Republican foe John McCain.

Obama, appearing at a fundraiser in California for the first time since clinching the Democratic race, delighted a crowd of around 700 guests at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion packed with members of Hollywood's elite.

Perhaps in recognition that he was treading on Tinseltown turf that was once the exclusive preserve of the Clintons, Obama gave a glowing tribute to his opponent from the marathon Democratic race and saying he and Hillary Clinton were now firm allies.