When Oprah Met Obama, on the Trail
They bonded during a flight from Chicago to Houston, musing over their odd-sounding names that begin with "O." It was a light-hearted moment between Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama during an otherwise serious mission in 2005 to comfort victims of Hurricane Katrina. "I think she saw his giving spirit and that really touched her," says Winfrey's friend, music legend Quincy Jones. "You can't fake the funk in those horrible circumstances."
There's no faking that things are a bit funky for Obama lately. The Illinois senator's numbers have improved in recent weeks—he's ahead in some Iowa polls—but he continues to trail Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire and South Carolina. That's why Oprah is making a campaign swing through the three states: the hope is that her star power will attract female voters—especially black women in South Carolina, who are leaning toward Clinton, according to polls. "While Oprah's support doesn't guarantee anyone else's support, it's going to be a big turnout," says David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager.
In South Carolina, Obama's skin color has been an unexpected obstacle to winning over African-Americans. "Black voters may love Obama, but they don't think white America will ever let a black man win," says the Rev. Charles Bane of New Hope Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C. Just last week, Clinton scored endorsements from dozens of black ministers in the state, where nearly half the likely Democratic primary voters are African-American. "Bush's eight years have been tough on us," Bane says. "We need relief right now.''
Obama insiders believe Oprah, born in the South herself, can convince them that he's the guy to provide it. "She's never done this kind of thing before, so it's a pretty big deal for her to put her name out like this,'' says actor Hill Harper, Obama's former classmate at Harvard Law School, who's now on his campaign-finance committee. "People trust her opinion." Perhaps, but Winfrey's got a lot of work to do—starting with her good friend Quincy. "I still have to vote for Hillary this time around," Jones says. "When I think Obama is ready, I'll be right there standing next to him. But that's not this election." The old school has spoken.
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Member Comments
Posted By: BleuBrenda @ 07/29/2008 7:17:09 PM
Comment: No Oprah. Yes Brenda. I can provide the ideas of the people who "don't have it all". I am real. I am sure of my choices and I can pursued preple need Obama. I am retired and go on a short notice. I am loud and am proud and I am like most middle/low middle class people that can assure Obama is THE ONE.
Posted By: fan_chor-cheung @ 05/11/2008 10:31:55 AM
Comment: Obama and Black supportors reminisced wrestlers whose matches are pre-arranged and play by hitting under the belt theatric causing economic downturn just to win. So, stop watching American games. Obama's white supportors are insulting their own race as incompetent and incapable to manage their own country . Whether Obama will be elected his "super delegates", who endorsed at other's expense, must be sentenced to live in Black neighborhoods for more than four years to find out what they are really like. The democratic governor of Oklahoma who had just endorsed Obama must be executed for causing their tornadoes. The communication media of the U. S. are circus clowns not worth commenting on because they have not given honest election comments. Hillary Clinton, best candidate in history, can be identified as a unspoiling mother who has wasted her own $10 mllion just to warn her stubborn and ignorance daughter not to date strangers in the street. American voters in general are "blind" to good judgement. Call your mother! or grandmother! Happy Mother Day!
Posted By: True Democrat @ 01/30/2008 3:55:37 PM
Comment: Wake up lady ! There's a war in Kenya going on forever, and the first thing Oboma will do is send troops over there to stick our nose in somebody else's business again to try to solve somebody else's problems because his father has ties there. He's like a preschooler in politics "Knows Nothing" about running a country, and "Knows Nothing" about the other worlds leaders, he's never met with them, he only knows just about what you know "NOTHING" So why don't you run for President? The Hillary / Bill team already ran the country well think about how much better the country was economically. Oboma has 1 year in the senate of total politics, and for the Kennedy's to endorse him is no big deal, Royalty? Come on a drunken mistress killing (ok he let her drown) thinks he runs the world, "Lame Ted"? endorses him, is a national joke. All the good Kennedy's are deceased and we're left with the wannabe's. The media reports all the facts? "There a Joke Too". Oboma started the badmouthing about Hillary, so Bill and Hillary retaliated, to defend them selves. same thing as if you hit me, I'll hit you harder. bigger, better, otherwise don't start and the cry about it for the sympathy from the mental midgets to come to your aid. and it's not about race? "B.S". Oprah is putting allot of her egg$ in one basket. You voted for Bush to didn't you? "Your Votes Are Our Future" Hey Country you did a great job with voting Bush in and then voting him in again? Go ahead and use your some more common sense and play with your new toy, that may be hazardous to our future. Take the chance if you have nothing to lose, Haven't you lost enough?