Will Smith pledges his support to Barack Obama

Will Smith has pledged his support to US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

The Men in Black star said he would do whatever Obama needs to help secure the Democratic candidate’s nomination.

He said: “I opened it up to him. I just gave him a call and asked him to tell me wherever you think you need me.

“I think he’s what the future of America is going to be.”

He told a US newspaper: “Barack represents what I feel is the future of the optimum survival of America.”

It comes as chat show queen Oprah Winfrey gave her public backing to 46-year-old Obama this weekend. The TV star’s support could hold incalculable value in a tight race for the Democratic nomination, pundits say.

The Democratic race in Iowa is tight, with Obama, Clinton and 2004 vice-presidential nominee John Edwards in a dead heat.

Iowa will hold the first caucus in the 2008 US presidential election on January 3 [2008] when activists will choose a candidate for their party’s nomination. As it is the first state in the country to hold a caucus, presidential candidates are always keen to prove their electability by winning there.

Smith, 39, recently claimed that he also has his eye on the White House. He said: “I’m going to be President of the United States.

“I always wanted to be the first black president, but Barack stole my idea. “That’s OK with me. Barack can go first and then I’ll take my turn.”