Tony Bennett supports Barack Obama

Washington (ANI): With many celebrities showing their favour for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, American singer Tony Bennett's support looks to be the strongest of the lot. Bennett, 82, performed on August 25 night along with James Taylor and John Legend for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a private show following the end of Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention.

There were three different parties going on at the Denver Performing Arts Centre, including Rock the Vote, but the Bennett-Pelosi party turned out to be the show of the night, thanks to the three performers' stunning work. The party also had a few surprise stars like radioman Tavis Smiley and Valerie Harper, who'd given a performance of her one-woman show 'Golda's Balcony' on August 24 with her husband of 25 years.

Taylor added his own charm, especially when the audience sang almost the entire lyrics of Carole King's 'You've Got a Friend' back to him over his own delicious vocal. Later, he and Bennett dueted on 'Put on a Happy Face', but it was the latter who really rocked the house when he took to the stage around 11 p.m., with his bluesy take on 'For Once In My Life'.

Pelosi was ecstatic that Bennett was there and nearly knocked over emcee Charlie Rangel to introduce him, and pretty much swooned at every song. When she was asked what her favourite Tony Bennett song is, she claimed all were her favourite. 'Whichever one he's singing at that moment," Fox News quoted her as saying.

Meanwhile, Bennett, who was backstage accepting kudos from some of his New York fans, could not stop praising Michelle Obama's speech. "She made the whole evening very human," he said. When asked about his stand on politics, Bennett revealed that he has always been politically inclined. "Oh yeah, always. My dad was a union man and so am I. This is our last shot at having real change. I'm going to be there," he added.