Vice-President Al Gore plunges into the world of showbusiness this week as he faces Oprah Winfrey and David Letterman on their popular TV shows and fund-raises with stars like Cher, Michael Bolton and Bette Midler.
But just hours before appearing yesterday on the Oprah Winfrey show in Chicago, Mr Gore denounced the entertainment industry for marketing adult-rated films and violent video games to children. He warned that if elected next November he would give the industry officials six months "to clean up their act".
Mr Gore's strictures on the entertainment industry followed the release of a Federal Trade Commission report ordered by President Clinton a year ago after the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado where the two student killers were later discovered to have watched numerous videos depicting excessive violence.
The FTC report has found that the entertainment industry flouts the law by targeting children under 16 with movies and video games supposed to be limited to adults.
Mr Gore's Republican opponent, Governor George W. Bush, is due to appear next week on the Oprah Winfrey show which is getting into politics for the first time as it opens its 15th season. "I wanted the opportunity to have a real conversation with the candidates and to understand where each stands, not just on the issues, but with regard to their character," Ms Winfrey said.
The Gore campaign spokesman, Mr Chris Lehane, said that the Vice-President looked forward to being on the two shows. "These are great forums to communicate with a large number of people," he said.
Mr Gore will this week also campaign across the key state of Ohio on a yellow school bus to promote his educational policies. He will also push education reforms in Maine and New Hampshire.
Between campaign trips he will take time to attend three Democratic National Committee fundraisers featuring well-known entertainers.
The singers Cher and Michael Bolton will perform at an $800,000 fund-raiser in Philadelphia today. Tomorrow singer James Taylor will be at a $1 million event in Boston. At Radio City Music Hall on Thursday the fund-raiser will include Bette Midler, Paul Simon, Ben Affleck and Jimmy Buffett.
Next week Mr Gore will attend a Democratic fund-raiser in Hollywood.
Republican critics point out that while President Clinton, Mr Gore and his running mate, Senator Joseph Lieberman, denounce Hollywood and the entertainment industry for targeting under-age children with X-rated films, violent video games and sexually explicit lyrics, this does not stop them raising large amounts for election campaigns from Hollywood.
The Gore-Lieberman campaign has received $928 million from the entertainment industry compared with $725 million for Mr Bush.