Oprah Winfrey, Can the Queen of Television Crown a President.

I am the last person in the world to believe in celebrity endorsements. The fact that television mogul and billionaire Oprah Winfrey has endorsed and is campaigning for Illinois Senator Barack Obama is of interest but only in what it might mean in the coming months for Obama’s popularity. Most celebrities spend their lives endorsing someone or something however with little regard for my personal disdain for their opinions. I’m not sure why they think they know more about politics or global warming or poverty or disease than you and I do. In many cases the insulated worlds they live in makes them a far cry from someone who can truly relate to all of us.

In the case of arguably the most influential woman in America endorsing a candidate for President the question has to be asked however if this celebrity support is different. Granted the endorsement will carry the full weight of those who prefer to follow the advice of their heroes unquestionably. But is Oprah the one celebrity who can carry emphasis with many of us who don’t usually take note to anything advocated by such prominent individuals in our world. Is Oprah Winfrey the one special media star who actually will be listened to by the masses that to date have shown they have no clear cut favorite for President. 

Winfrey without question has millions of viewers and followers. Perhaps no person in American history using her long established credibility has been able to influence people as much as she. The record is clear. If Oprah endorses your book or your product sales skyrocket. Individual’s careers have been made by just being a guest on her show. Causes have been born and strengthened by just a few sentences from her stating she believes in them.

It has to be wondered if a political endorsement from Oprah will carry as much weight as it does in these other areas. It won’t take much time to find out the answer to that query.

There is a great deal of “buzz" concerning the December 9^th appearance of Oprah with Senator Obama in South Carolina. Interest in seeing Oprah has caused campaign staff to move the Senator’s rally to the 80, 000 seat University of South Carolina football stadium. Although it will be interesting to see how many people show up, a large crowd will only prove Winfrey’s popularity. It will not guarantee Obama a push in the polls and that is where we will find out just how influential Oprah is.

Senator Obama has been trailing New York senator Hillary Clinton since the first days of their candidacies with Obama gradually gaining ground. In Illinois, Obama’s own Democratic state, he has only been able to garner mid 30% poll numbers when compared to all Democratic candidates in the race. Although this is enough to give him the lead in Illinois, the numbers hardly show a favorite son mandate in his own home state. Illinoisan’s current lack of interest in their senator falls under two categories. In the first, like the rest of the nation, we question if he has enough experience to do the job. From day one there has been debate if he isn’t the best candidate for President-eight years from now. The second factor which has hurt Obama in his own state is that this past summer when Illinois utility companies were able to double and even triple their rates to Illinoisans, Obama was off somewhere telling Americans he was for the common man. Illinoisans want to know why he didn’t get involved in helping common Illinoisans who already were his constituents. Illinoisans ponder if the young senator is all style but no substance.

Still with almost a year to go there is no question Obama is a principle and viable candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination. The question of whether Oprah will make a difference in this race therefore is a serious point of interest. I will give Oprah this. She has helped make this far too windy political process have an interesting twist to follow. Much more so than Barbra Streisand or the teamsters endorsing Hillary.