Clinton nails this Hollywood audition

If there’s such a thing as the Hollywood Presidential Primary, then Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the clear favorite in the back-lot polls. In fact, Clinton’s Democratic industry supporters are so confidant of their candidate’s popularity that they believe the race is in the can.

Last week, the senator secured the backing of director Rob Reiner, an influential fence sitter who had previously been skeptical of the senator’s electability; he announced that he believes Clinton “is the next president of the United States.” To seal the deal, he’s holding a fundraiser/birthday party for Clinton later this month. The director was personally calling people this week to invite them to the soiree. (By Thursday, it was practically sold out.)

Billionaire Clinton supporter Ron Burkle said he’s not surprised that Hollywood politicos -- who have the luxury of meeting all the presidential candidates in person -- are starting to favor Hillary. They started out not wanting to like her, but then discovered that she is far more charming, warm and personable than they had imagined.

“She wins them over,” he said.

Earlier this week, cable company guru Marc Nathanson hosted a fundraiser for the senator at his ultramodern Holmby Hills estate. About 200 people attended, including former Paramount Studios chief Sherry Lansing.

Lansing said she arrived at the event with an open mind. She’s said from the start of the campaign that she would meet with all the presidential candidates before making a decision on whom she’s supporting. So far, she’s liked them all. But Clinton this week wowed her.

“Her speech was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever witnessed,” Lansing said. “She was intelligent, thoughtful, confident and warm. She seemed so relaxed.”

Although Hollywood was enamored with Sen. Barack Obama earlier this year, that trend started to shift over the summer, following a number of fundraisers for Clinton.

“When you spend time with her one-on-one, she’s intelligent and engaging,” publicist Howard Bragman said. “She looks you in the eye and she remembers your name.” Though he had met her only in passing two years ago, when he saw her recently she said: “Oh, hi Howard.” “It’s kind of frightened me considering all the names I’ve forgotten in my life.”

It’s one of the talents people admire in Hollywood, where names are everything. They also find it amazing that she gives speeches without a script.

“Anyone who has attended an event for Hillary recently would probably agree that she has become a better candidate with more confidence and a stronger stump speech, as the campaign has progressed,” said Hollywood political consultant and Clinton supporter Noah Mamet. “I think she has successfully answered the ‘likability’ question to all those who have seen her lately.”

He added: “If there is such a thing as a ‘Hollywood primary,’ I would say she’s dominating the field, if she hasn’t already won it.”

Hollywood political consultant Andy Spahn, who works with Obama supporter and DreamWorks co-founder David Geffen, isn’t convinced. “There is no Hollywood primary,” Spahn said. “The first contest is Iowa.”

He added: “My experience tells me that ‘the mood’ here is less important than ‘the mood’ in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.”

Hollywood political strategist Chad Griffin, a former Clinton White House staffer, disagrees. “The Hollywood primary is an audition in front of the entire nation. Hillary out- performed her opponents and proved she already knows the role of president and where she wants to go with it.”

tina.daunt@latimes.com