Steven Van Zandt - Van Zandt: 'I Back Obama'

Rocker-turned-actor STEVEN VAN ZANDT shunned presidential candidate HILLARY CLINTON by refusing to take part in her video spoof of THE SOPRANOS - because he prefers her rival BARACK OBAMA. The Clinton campaign asked Van Zandt to play a menacing figure in a video where Bill and Hillary Clinton meet to discuss the song selected for her campaign theme. But Van Zandt - who is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and also plays hardman Sivio Dante in the TV drama - refused to endorse the Democrat because he was hoping for a "Gore/Obama ticket". He says, "They asked me to be in that. I declined. I thought it was cleaver, and funny. I just didn't feel comfortable endorsing her, or anyone else at this stage. "I was hoping for a Gore/Obama ticket. I read Obama'a book, and the guy is frighteningly intelligent. I thought, 'Wouldn't it be nice to try the other side of the coin, and actually have the smartest guy in the room be president.'" The role ultimately went to Vincent Curatola, who played New York mob boss Johnny 'Sack' Sacramoni in the HBO series.