Madonna's backing Wes for president

The Material Girl hopes people pay attention to her latest offstage act: endorsing former Nato commander Wesley Clark for president.

Madonna, who announced her support for the retired general before Christmas, posted a letter today on her website urging others to follow her.

“I am writing to you because the future I wish for my children is at risk,” said the mother-of-two, who criticised President George Bush.

“I’m supporting Wes Clark because, in him, I see the qualifications, character and vision that we so desperately need.”

Madonna, who now calls London home, pledges to do all she can to help Clark’s campaign and includes a web link for people to contribute to the Democratic candidate. She also will hold a fund-raiser at her Los Angeles residence sometime in the future, said Clark spokesman Bill Buck.

This isn’t the first time Madonna has shown her distaste for the Bush administration.

Last spring, during the Iraq war, she withdrew a violent, anti-war video that included a scene in which a grenade was thrown in the direction of a Bush lookalike.