A tight run for the money

You think Pennsylvania is close? The gap between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton in the race for Hollywood dollars makes the contest for the Keystone State look like a walk in the park.

According to nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics, less than $300 separates the two Democratic candidates in the entertainment industry. Obama leads with $2,956,858 in contributions, compared with Clinton’s $2,956,567.

E-mails were dispatched in the Clinton camp in recent days noting the difference. For some of the Clinton loyalists here, the number was maddening. You can barely get a steak dinner at Cut for less than $300. One member of Obama’s finance committee said, “This is wild!” (By the way, Republican Sen. John McCain has raised $530,625 from the entertainment industry in his bid for the White House, but then he doesn’t have fundraisers at Oprah Winfrey’s house.)

At the very least, the statistical dead heat between Obama and Clinton shows how deeply divided Democratic Hollywood remains in its loyalties and suggests that, whatever the outcome of the primary, the industry will be there to support the Democratic nominee after the convention.

And like with the box office, it’ll be looking at the numbers.

PETA lets the faux fur fly

The war has ended with a cease-fire. No, not that war. The war between People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the once-fur-loving diva, Beyonce Knowles.

A year ago, PETA launched an all-out offensive against the singer because she was spotted wearing fur stoles, coats, collars and wraps everywhere.

Now, after careful inspection of red carpet footage, fashion photo shoots, paparazzi snapshots, cellphone candids and assorted dime-store tabloids, the group has found that the singer spent the winter fur free.

According to a posting on the group’s website, Senior Vice President Lisa Lange sent Knowles and her new husband, rapper mogul Jay-Z, a faux-fur throw as a wedding gift to confirm the detente.

If Knowles and PETA can make peace, maybe there is hope for an Obama-Clinton reconciliation.

Colbert’s Larry King grilling

Who knew Pennsylvania could be so funny? Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert is broadcasting from Philadelphia this week, which got him a spot on CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Monday night.

The idea was for King to interview Colbert. But at times, it seemed the other way around. The comedy host shot provocative questions at the CNN host (topics ranging from politics to polygamy)

“I’m against polygamy,” Colbert declared. “I have one wife, and I can barely handle that. Now, Larry, you’ve had a few wives. Wouldn’t it have saved you some time if you just had them all at the same time?”

King seemed a little rattled. “Probably true. Probably, you’ve got a point, Stephen.”

Colbert replied: “A stupid one, but a point.”

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tina.daunt@latimes.com