Oprah is pulling out all the stops with her endorsement of Barack Obama. On Saturday she hosted a big money fundraising event for Obama on her 42-acre Montecito, CA estate.

Helicopters carrying camera crews buzzed overhead, and tinted glass covered the windows of almost every vehicle entering as Oprah Winfrey welcomed 1,500 guests Saturday evening to her sprawling estate in what was the biggest fundraiser of Sen. Barack Obama’s political career.

Obama bumped elbows with comedians Chris Rock and Whoopi Goldberg. Singer Stevie Wonder, an Obama favorite, performed.

But it was the joint appearance by Obama and Winfrey, who never before has involved herself in politics in such a large way, that generated the greatest star power of the evening.

Oprah reportedly (via an un-named source at the event) told her guests, “I call my home the Promised Land because I get to live Dr. King’s dream. I haven’t been actively engaged before because there hasn’t been anything to be actively engaged in. But I am engaged now to make Barack Obama the next president of the United States.”

The star-studded gathering marked the most visible effort yet for the billionaire media magnate in her effort to help the Illinois Democrat in his quest to win his party’s presidential nomination.

As Winfrey introduced Obama’s wife, Michelle, who was wearing a dress by Chicago designer Maria Pinto, the hostess called her the “first lady.”

At times, Winfrey echoed Obama’s stump speech. “How many hours you have spent in the halls of Washington is not the issue,” she said, according to the source. “I want a man that has good sense.”

Winfrey said she never expected to be involved in a presidential campaign. “When you have been called, no one can stand in the way of destiny,” she reportedly said.

The Chicago Trib dedicated 3 pages to the Oprah Obama Fest, and CNN notes that not to be outdone, ‘Magic’ Johnson will host a star studded Clinton bash on September 14.

The Clinton campaign tells CNN the event, also to be attended by musician Quincy Jones and music producer Berry Gordy, will be held at Johnson’s home.

The competing fundraisers highlight both candidates’ courtship of prominent African-Americans as they battle for their party’s nomination.

In a statement, Johnson said Clinton “has the experience and knowledge to help lead our country,” according to the Associated Press.

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