By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Reporter

Posted Dec. 9, 2007 – The folks who packed the venues in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina weren’t disappointed.  They got a chance to be in an audience with Oprah Winfrey on stage. 

My sister, Phyllis Hurse, called me Saturday afternoon. “Are you watching Oprah on CNN?” she asked me. Sis lives in Orange County, Calif., known as a Republican stronghold. 
I’m not sure who my sister is planning to support in the 2008 presidential race, but her phone call made me realize folks across the country were tuned in to hear what Winfrey had to say. And, Winfrey was saying that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) should be the next president.

The pundits and political-watchers had a field day predicting the impact and influence of the world’s most powerful media mogul who decided to venture into politics. 

The media, including myself, have been obsessed with the story.  Winfrey’s road trip made it on the front page national and international newspapers, more than 1,600 Web site news stories. CNN carried Winfrey’s speech in Des Moines without commercial breaks on Saturday, and Sunday ABC’s cable network carried the event in Columbia, S.C., live and commercial-free.    

Obama thanked Winfrey for her support, as she and his wife, Michelle, sat on stage while he delivered his stump speech.  Obama acknowledged the crowds were larger this swing through the early primary states, crediting the “Oprah factor.”  But it was clearly an advantage Obama has enjoyed – and, I’m sure, other candidates envied.

Winfrey called Obama “The candidate who can change America.”   I think Winfrey should be called, “The celebrity who has changed campaigning.”

Who will you support? Obama? Hillary? Or neither? Talk about it.