John Mellencamp Likes Both

I hope Obama didn't think he had an exclusive on Indiana native John Mellencamp. From the LAT:

IF there's any doubt about the influence Hollywood plays in this year's presidential election, consider this: Within minutes of taking the stage in Indiana on Tuesday night, Sen. Barack Obama had an important announcement -- singer John Mellencamp and his wife, model Elaine Irwin, had come up to join them.

"I want to thank John Mellencamp and his wonderful wife, Elaine, for taking time to be here today, driving up from Bloomington," Obama told the crowd in Evansville, Ind. " But there was just one problem: Mellencamp will also be attending an event for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on May 3; this time in Indianapolis. It seems the singer, who actively campaigned for Sen. John Edwards before he dropped out of the presidential race, is dividing his time between Obama and Clinton.

There was an explanation set to be posted on Mellencamp's website Wednesday: "John Mellencamp is a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party, which he feels represents the best hope for sorely needed change for this country. He is lending his support to welcome both candidates as a Hoosier and a Democrat."

John Mellencamp would have been a pretty decent endorsement pickup for Obama, considering his problem with working class and rural Democrats, which are quite numerous in Indiana. But no help from Mellencamp, here, other than maybe to say that Obama's OK with him, but then again, so is Hillary.