Bon Jovi: Political Power Broker

If you want to play in New Jersey politics, there’s one man you have to talk to: Jon Bon Jovi. He's a good friend of the Clintons and has held court with John Edwards and Al Gore. Barack Obama’s still hoping. State politicians rush to consult the rocker, the New York Times reports, creating an unlikely elder statesman.

“Every time he’s been asked to help his state, he’s done it,” said a former governor. Bon Jovi’s been so active that some speculate he’s contemplating running for office, but he says he’s content being a rock star. Asked whose job was better, his or Bill Clinton’s, he said, “Mine, because I get to keep the airplane and house.” (More Bon Jovi stories.)