BATMAN - BATMAN TAKES ON THE JOKER IN U.S. POLITICAL BATTLE

BATMAN is taking on THE JOKER as the race for the White House heats up in America - MICHAEL KEATON has announced he's backing BARACK OBAMA just days after JACK NICHOLSON confirmed he's supporting HILLARY CLINTON. Nicholson has approved a pro-Clinton Internet video director Rob Reiner created using the movie veteran's most iconic film scenes, and now Keaton, who played the first big screen Batman, has admitted he wants Obama as America's next president. He says, "There's something about him I find really attractive. (He's) really refreshing." And, as the two Democrats fight it our for their party's candidacy vote, Nicholson and Keaton aren't the only celebrities taking sides. Ryan Phillippe, John Leguizamo and Jessica Alba have joined Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am for a second pro-Obama campaign video, while Hollywood couple Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson joined Clinton on the campaign trail in Ohio on Monday (03Mar08). Eva Longoria Parker and Melanie Griffith campaigned for the former First Lady in Austin, Texas on Monday night (03Mar08).