Does Oprah Help Obama Close a Gender Gap?

4 years ago

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Or is this just wishful thinking:

Obama made the disclosure while working a crowd at Central High School here, after delivering an education policy speech. A man, Ralph Hoagland, asked Obama-who was mingling and shaking hands-- if Oprah was going to stump for Obama in New Hampshire.

"First she's coming to Iowa," Obama told Hoagland, who in 1963 was a co-founder of what is now the giant CVS pharmacy chain. "But we'll talk about it. We'll get her up here."

...
The Obama campaign has long hoped Winfrey, who hosted a massive fund-raiser for Obama would be willing to go on the stump for him. Winfrey opened her Montecito, Calif. estate to Obama on Sept. 8 for a star-studded fund-raiser that took in about $3 million for Obama.

With the recent news that Obama is doing well in Iowa, this could be another added boost for the beleaguered campaign. But in PR value only. As the article points out, the fact that Obama has Oprah's support isn't really news. Oprah has a huge TV show and can give him great exposure and a couple of headlines in a news cycle. But honestly, that's about it. There are plenty of folks who enjoy Oprah's TV show, but won't take political advice from her, especially on something as big as this.

Obama needs more help than a bigtime celebrity can give him. He needs Hillary to fall flat again, he needs to get a perception across that he can beat GOP nominees to be named later. And then there's the rumor whispers now dogging his campaign.

No if Oprah was a part of a general surge in Obama's fortunes, I could see it. Compare it to what Mike Huckabee is able to do with endorsements, a favorable rise in the polls, a more forward campaign and youtubes. That's not really happening with Obama, this is more of a fighting to keep your head above water and give your supporters a sense of hope rather than anything else.

Don't buy it. Obama is still in deep trouble.

Filed Under: Endorsements, Barack Obama, Featured Stories, 2008 President

Tagged: Barack Obama, BarackObama, caucuses, Democrats, election, endorsements, gender, gender gap, GenderGap, Hillary Clinton, HillaryClinton, Iowa, Oprah Winfrey, OprahWinfrey, president 2008, President2008, primaries, women voters, WomenVoters

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