She can sell books — but can she sell a politician? Barack Obama confirmed recently that Oprah Winfrey will join him in his campaign in three key states next month for the Democratic Party’s nomination for the United States presidential election.
The Obama team anticipates a huge demand for tickets for one of the US’s most popular television celebrities. Aides hope the publicity will give him a significant push in the run-up to the caucuses and primaries of the 2008 presidential race beginning in January.
They also see her attracting people who might not normally turn out for political events.
Oprah’s pulling power is considerable, as demonstrated by Oprah’s Book Club, part of the Oprah Winfrey Show. Since it began in 1996 her recommendations have seen even obscure authors add a million sales.
Winfrey, who held a fundraising gala dinner for Obama at her California home in September that raised $3-million, will campaign with him from December 8 to 9. The first two stops are in Iowa, where the first caucus to determine the Democratic nomination will be held on January 3. The following day she will join him in South Carolina and New Hampshire, which will also be early tests of party opinion.
Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards are neck and neck in Iowa, though a Washington Post/ABC poll last week gave Obama a lead for the first time, with 30% to Clinton’s 26%.
His campaign has lifted off in recent weeks after the US media reported that a Clinton nomination was almost inevitable.
His fortunes turned after she gave a poor performance in a televised debate at the end of last month.
Obama said he thought Winfrey would be influential. ”Obviously to the extent that she can highlight some of the themes of our campaign and reach some people who might not otherwise be thinking about politics, that’s great,” he said.
In a further sign of Winfrey’s drawing power, Obama’s team said volunteers helping with his campaign will get preference for tickets by completing a four-hour shift or attending one of the many local caucus training events to prepare them for the state’s complex election process.
Although Democratic voters in Iowa and New Hampshire often portray themselves as being extremely serious about politics, given their position as the nation’s first test of public opinion, they are unlikely to pass up a chance to see Winfrey.
Her appearance could help Obama too in South Carolina, where polls suggest that many ÂÂAfrican-Americans, who make up 55% of the state’s population, are torn between him and Clinton. — Â