By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Will Oprah’s favorite presidential pick be yours?  Read and respond. 

Posted Dec. 4, 2007 – This weekend television talk show queen Oprah Winfrey will hit the campaign trail with another one of her favorites, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).   We all know making “Oprah’s favorite list,” can sell millions of books, make a fashion designer a household name, and propel anyone into stardom.  But we don’t know if her “Midas touch” will have the same influence on politics. 
Well, we’re about to find out. 
Winfrey had avoided politics for years on her top rated daytime show. It wasn’t until the 2000 presidential race – when Winfrey invited then-Gov. George Bush (R) of Texas and former Vice President Al Gore (D) in separate appearances to sit on the coveted stage at Harpo Studios in Chicago. As I recall, neither candidate made news and both interviews were somewhat lackluster.  Still, millions tuned in.
But this presidential race is different.  Winfrey decided it wasn’t about equal time; it was about someone she knew, respected and trusted: Obama. Because Oprah is going on the road and not on “Oprah” with her presidential pick, her program avoids a confrontation with the Federal Communications Commission.
Her appearances in primary states with Obama avoid any requirement for her to give his opposing candidates equal time on her show.  If an invited candidate doesn’t have to pay for the time – and guests on her show don’t pay – Oprah is required to give the opposing candidate the same amount of free time. 
 The announcement from Obama’s camp that the two powerful African-American “O’s” would be joined on the campaign trail must have put rival campaigns into a tizzy. 
But Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), who knows a thing or two about how to campaign, reached into her bag of star power and pulled out Barbra Streisand, arguably the “second”-most loved woman entertainer.  Streisand is a longtime friend and fundraiser for the Clintons.  

Both Obama and Clinton have their share of celebrity supporters, most in the fundraising area, but few have stomped on the campaign trail. There really isn’t any way to measure the impact of a celebrity endorsement, but if a celeb can make a difference, my bet’s on Oprah. 
 

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