Upgrade fit for a president

If you want to stay in the Caesars Palace penthouse that President Barack Obama slept in this week, all you need to be is a million-dollar high roller.

A source says if you gamble $100,000 in the hotel, it would not get you into the "Obama suite" in Forum Tower.

Check out my blog to see my video tour of the 22,000-square-foot penthouse -- which also has suited Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, Bette Midler, Cher, Jennifer Lopez and heads of state.

Obama arrived at 5 p.m. Tuesday for his fundraiser for Sen. Harry Reid at Caesars. He entered his 21st-floor suite via service elevator. How far we've come: Sammy Davis Jr. and other black entertainers had to use service entries here a half-century ago. The president, obviously, was just being security cautious.

His marble-floor penthouse featured a butler, six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, two patios (facing north and south), two skylight atriums, multiple dens, two grand pianos, two kitchens, bars, Jacuzzis, steam showers and quite a few bidets.

Michelle and the kids did not come. Caesars was sold out of rooms, so the White House media corps stayed across the street at the Flamingo Las Vegas.

Obama is an ex-smoker. None of the many ashtrays looked used, except to hold candy wrappers. I counted matchsticks in matchboxes; none seemed to be missing.

He didn't gamble. He ordered room service, a steak from Neros, not nearly the priciest eatery in Caesars. He chatted amiably with staff.

At 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Obama used the treadmill and weights in Caesars' gym. For those 45 minutes, the gym was closed. He eschewed weights and a treadmill in his suite, probably because they're in a cramped closet-type space.

I suggested that Caesars' marquee boast, "Obama Slept Here," but that won't happen. Instead, execs are thinking of putting up a plaque in the suite, a subtle touch for a bodacious occasion.

WEEKEND PLANNER

If Obama had stayed this weekend, he surely would have read today's Neon section to see who's in town: Fleetwood Mac Saturday at MGM ... The Offspring Saturday at the Palms ... Sugar Ray today at Hard Rock pool ... Pennywise today at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay ... Erykah Badu Sunday at House of Blues ... Bill Maher today-Sunday at Orleans.

DEEP THOUGHTS

"I had a life event around Kajagoogoo. ... 'Too Shy' is the first time I ever got a chick's boobies, and that was kind of rad." -- Mark McGrath tells me on Page 51 of today's Neon.

E-mail delfman@reviewjournal.com. Comment at reviewjournal.com/elfman.