CHICAGO — U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, contemplating a run for president, met privately Wednesday with rapper Ludacris to talk about young people.

“We talked about empowering the youth,” said the artist, whose real name is Chris Bridges.

Bridges was in town to launch the YouthAIDS “Kick Me” campaign to raise HIV/AIDS awareness during a stop at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., near Chicago.

The gathering at Obama’s downtown Chicago office was a meeting of two star powers: Obama, who enjoys rock star-like status on the political scene, and Ludacris, who has garnered acclaim for his music and acting.

The spotlight has been on Obama, a first-term Democrat from Illinois, as he mulls a run for the White House in 2008. Obama has said he would make a decision in the coming months. Meanwhile, he is scheduled to visit New Hampshire Dec. 10 for a Democratic Party event.

Obama, who became famous two years ago after addressing the Democratic National Convention, is no stranger to the star set.

He has graced the cover of magazines, appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show and is scheduled to appear Friday on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” where he will promote his best-seller, “The Audacity of Hope.” Obama already has won a Grammy Award for readings from his memoir, “Dreams From My Father.”