The Obama campaign received financial support from the elite entertainers in Manhattan on Thursday, as the reelection team looked to refill its coffers in a big fundraising drive. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were seen together for a rare joint fundraising appearance in New York.

The fundraiser was at the home of Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker. The dinner was able to take in over $2 million for the night. Fifty guests paid $40,000 per plate to enjoy the evening.

The Manhattan dinner was Obama’s reelection campaign’s latest effort to get celebrities to help in fundraising to counter the increasing number of donors helping the Republican Party candidate Mitt Romney.

Obama told his supporters they played a critical role in his reelection. Among those in attendance at the Obama fundraiser were Meryl Streep, the Oscar winner, Michael Kors a fashion designer and Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue, who helped to monitor a private session of questions and answers between the president and his guests. Broderick, who is currently starring in a musical on Broadway, was not present for the dinner.

Another fundraiser was also held in Manhattan for the president on Thursday. The event was highlighted by a performance from Mariah Carey and comments from singer Alicia Keys. The dinner of 250 yielded over $2.5 million for the Obama campaign.

The Democrats have ties ideologically and politically with members of the movie and TV industry. Obama needs their help now as the Republicans are raising more money from wealthy donors that can give unlimited sums of money to political action committees since they are non-profit enterprises.