Ever since President Obama publicly stated last week that he supported marriage equality for gay couples, people have been queuing up to both praise and condemn him. While some say it could cost him votes, others say it could gain him some. Either way, there’s no doubt that it’s been a massive boon to his campaign coffers.

It’s been seen by many wavering Democrats as a reaffirmation that Obama truly believes in things, after four years where many feel like he’s been dragging his heels and not showing clear leadership on social reform. Indeed it came shortly before what turned out to be the biggest fund-raising dinner in history, with Barack bagging $15 million in Hollywood at the weekend, something most don’t believe is a coincidence.

As you’d expect, the likes of George Clooney and Dustin Lance Black were very happy with Obama’s statement, and now Will Smith has joined them, telling reporters in Berlin that he backed up Barack Obama’s personal pledge of support to same sex marriage, saying it was “brave” given that it is an election year. Smith added, “If anybody can find someone to love them and to help them through this difficult thing that we call life, I support that in any shape or form.”

Personally we think Obama’s mvie was a pretty savvy one, as it’ll raise funds and the only people it’s really likely to anger wouldn’t vote for him anyway. However there are likely to be thousands who’ve become disillusioned in the last four years and may have been wavering in their loyalty or who may not have voted at all, but who might now feel energised all over again. It was undoubtedly a political move, but it has to be good news.