High-Rollers

GENEVA (Reuters) - George Clooney has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama by headlining an exclusive event for Americans in Geneva, one of the world's most affluent cities.

Dressed in a black suit and tie, Clooney signed autographs but did not comment as he squeezed his way past fans gathered in the narrow streets of Geneva.

Some 170 contributors paid $1,000 a head to hear him speak at a cocktail party held at a museum in Geneva's Old Town.

And 75 high-rolling supporters spent $10,000 each to attend "an intimate seated dinner" with the 47-year-old star which followed at the organizer's nearby apartment, according to the American lawyer who set up the twin "private" events.

Earlier, organizer Charles Adams said on local morning radio that the event was "fully subscribed."

"Actually most of our guests for dinner are coming from elsewhere -- people are flying in from Los Angeles, Prague, London, Zurich and so on," said Adams, who serves on Obama's National Finance Committee.

"I personally assured George Clooney that Geneva is a city where reserve is a way of life, that he won't be attacked by fans trying to tear off his shirt," he told the daily Le Temps.

The two events could infuse more than $900,000 into the Democratic war chest ahead of the November 4 election which pits the Illinois senator against Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, who is due to be formally nominated on Wednesday.

In keeping with U.S. laws, only American citizens were allowed to buy tickets to the fundraiser which has had normally sober Geneva buzzing.