Oprah's Obama Funder Sold Out? ... Gay/lesbian Dem Forum in L.A.

WASHINGTON -- Some rank-and-file potential donors to a September fund-raiser hosted by Oprah Winfrey for Democratic White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama at her California estate are being told the event is sold out.

Meanwhile, in other California 2008 presidential contest news, a forum on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues will be attended by seven of the eight Democratic contenders on Aug. 9 in Los Angeles. Singer Melissa Etheridge will be among the questioners at the forum sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign and LOGO, the new cable channel with programming aimed at a gay and lesbian audience Melissa Etheridge

Some members of the Illinois senator's national finance committee have been given a quota of only seven tickets (minus one for themselves) for the $2,300-per-person Sept. 8 bash-for-cash at Winfrey's home in Santa Barbara.

There's a waiting list, but since there likely will be few no-shows at the glitzy Winfrey party, contributors are being steered to other, smaller Obama events. Before Winfrey's reception, Obama will visit a Winfrey neighbor in Santa Barbara, Nancy Koppelman, a Democratic and human rights activist for a lunch for about 100 donors.

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