Obama shrugs off political woes

US: US President Barack Obama shrugged off his political woes and swept into New York City on Thursday for a star-studded fundraising blitz which could net his 2012 reelection bid $2.3 million.

The president, trying to bounce back from the worst week of his crisis-hit White House term so far, rubbed shoulders with Gwyneth Paltrow, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and R&B diva Alicia Keys at a top dollar fundraiser.

In the intimate basement of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's brick row home, the president sought to inspire his high rolling donors as he sets off on a 16-month drive to his reelection bid in November 2012.

"This is a pretty good looking crowd," Obama joked to a 50-strong group, each of whom had paid $35,800 to share the evening with him.

The White House dismissed suggestions that it was inappropriate for Obama to rub shoulders with New York millionaires at a time when Americans yet to recover from one recession are living in fear of another.

AFP