Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel play Barack 'n' roll raised about $7 million for Barack Obama's campai

So they stuck to their hits. "Glory Days," "Thunder Road" and "Born to Run" by Bruce. And Billy's "Allentown," "Movin' Out" and others.

Joel admitted he weighed the decision about publicly backing Obama. "I'm popping my cherry with this endorsement," he told us.

Springsteen told the crowd that "for a long time, I never saw myself as part of any political party. [Now] many Americans have seen the value of their homes and their retirement funds plummet.

"I believe Sen. Obama understands these issues and that he's taken a measure of that distance in his life and work."

After singing along to "Spirit in the Night," Obama confessed that he had told his wife, Michelle, that the real reason "I'm running for President is that I cannot be Bruce Springsteen [or] Billy Joel." The senator then fired up supporters with "one of my greatest hits," his stirring story about a lady he met in Greenwood, S.C.

P.S.: The concert, orchestrated by Harvey Weinstein, John Sykes and Anna Wintour, was recorded. Word is Obama will have a screening as a reward for his campaign staff.


-- Modified on 10/20/2008 11:32:16 AM