As a host of presidential candidates seek to secure first their party’s nomination and then the highest office in the country, the importance of a few celebrity endorsements should not be underestimated. Mike Huckabee’s waning campaign received some much-needed publicity (in the any coverage is good coverage category) when Chuck Norris popped off about John McCain’s age, and the import of Oprah-Obama union helped launch the Illinois senator to the front of the Democratic pack. Though the insurrection led by Bruce Springsteen and Puff Daddy during the last presidential election failed to produce measurable results, several of socially conscious artists have again gone public with their candidate preference. Some of the endorsements are predictable, such as the Osmonds backing fellow Mormon Mitt Romney and Pearl Jam backing Obama’s campaign of renewed hope. Some less obvious groupings include grizzled country singer Merle Haggard standing united with Barbara Streisand and 50 Cent in support of Hilary Clinton and wild man Ted Nugent’s allegiance to Huckabee despite his fundamentalist religious views. Perhaps the most telling connection between candidate and musician, though, is in the John McCain camp. The only musician out in favor of the septuagenarian candidate is easy listening icon Burt Bacharach. A full list follows:

REPUBLICANS

Mike Huckabee: Ted Nugent

John McCain: Burt Bacharach

Ron Paul: Krist Novoselic, Arlo Guthrie

Mitt Romney: Pat Boone, Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond

DEMOCRATS

Hillary Clinton: Madonna, Carly Simon, Tony Bennett, Jon Bon Jovi, Melissa Etheridge, Carole King, Janet Jackson, Quincy Jones, 50 Cent, Mya, Timbaland, Barbra Streisand, Merle Haggard

Barack Obama: Babyface, the Goo Goo Dolls, Macy Gray, Ne-Yo, Will Smith, Usher, Stevie Wonder, Harry Connick Jr., Pete Wentz, Win Butler, will.i.am/the Black Eyed Peas, the Grateful Dead, Jeff Tweedy, Conor Oberst, Joanna Newsom, the Cool Kids, Stephan Jenkins, OK Go, Shudder to Think, Dave Matthews, Pearl Jam

[Idolator]