(cross-posted on Texans for Obama]
Here's an early draft of today's Obama-Oprah news round-up...
While the arm-chair pundits try to claim that celebrity endorsements normally don't make a difference. But Oprah is different.
As of 5:45 on Saturday, there were 2.557 Google web hits for "Obama Oprah". IMHO, it seems a little far-fetched to argue that over 2,000 positive news stories won't have at least some impact on this election. Obama is an inspiring candidate, and he can seal the deal with undecided and independent voters.
Today, Oprah helped introduce him to about 20,000 Iowans, and it's likely that a few of them will come out and caucus for Obama on January 3.
Oprah introduces Obama
Orpah Winfrey greets her - uh - Barack Obama's supporters in Iowa
NY Daily News
When Obama joined Winfrey on stage, they exchanged a hug and a kiss. An audience member urged Obama to choose Winfrey for vice president, prompting the senator to say, "That would be demotion, you understand that!"
Winfrey began Saturday an unprecedented four-event, three-state, two-day campaign swing that could a landmark moment in the fiercely competitive race for the 2008 Democratic nomination for President. Recent polls show Obama overtaking chief Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in Iowa, home of the first-in-the-nation caucus.
After this afternoon's Des Moines event, attended by 18,500, Winfrey is scheduled to join Obama and his wife, Michelle, for a second Iowa late Saturday, followed by major rallies in South Carolina and New Hampshire Sunday.
Because of massive demand in South Carolina, the Obama campaign moved the rally there from an arena that seats 18,000 to a stadium that seats 80,000.
Celebrity endorsements typically do little to sway votes, but political analysts have said Winfrey, who can single-handedly catapult unknown authors to the top of the best-seller lists, is in a league of her own.
Her decision to hit the campaign trail has generated gobs and gobs of buzz for the freshman Illinois senator who aspires to be the nation's first African-American president.
"I love Oprah," said Lavonne Short, 52, of Urbandale, Ia., who was first in line yesterday for online ticket holders. "I've been an Oprah lover for years."
Oprah/Obama: One hot ticket
Des Moines Register
More than 20,000 tickets have been released for a Barack Obama campaign stop today in Des Moines where Oprah Winfrey will speak, according to information provided by his campaign staff.
In total, 23,000 tickets have been given away, which includes 6,000 to precinct captains, campaign volunteers and caucus training attendees.
Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, announced his run for president in February. Polls throughout much of the year pegged him in second or third place. Recently, however, he has placed on top in several polls, including one released a week ago by The Des Moines Register.
The Register's poll showed him with a slight edge over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, with 28 percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers over her 25 percent and Edwards' 23. A Newsweek poll released a few days later showed Obama with a six-point lead over Clinton.
Winfrey, a talk show host who is considered one of the most influential entertainers in the world, raised about $3 million for Obama during a star-studded event in September. Today marks her first campaign trail appearance.
"This is an incredible opportunity to strengthen and build our organization and get thousands of people see Sen. Obama who might not otherwise," said Tommy Vietor, Obama's Iowa press secretary.
Oprah in Des Moines
New York Times
"Oh my goodness," Oprah Winfrey said. "At last, I'm here."
With those seven words here today, Ms. Winfrey stepped into American politics as she has never done before, opening a three-state tour in her quest to support the presidential bid of Senator Barack Obama.
"For the very first time in my life, I feel compelled to stand up and speak out for the man who I believe has a new vision for America," Ms. Winfrey said, speaking over more than 10,000 screaming admirers. "I am not here to tell you what to think. I am here to ask you to think - seriously."
As she strode onto the stage at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines, she waved and looked momentarily taken aback by the size of the crowd, the largest to assemble this year in a state awash in presidential politics. From the moment she started her 17-minute address, she declared that she was uncertain of the true power of her endorsement, saying: "I don't know about all that."
"I am so tired of politics. That's why you seldom see politicians on my show, because we only have an hour," Ms. Winfrey said. "When you listen to Barack Obama, when you really hear him, you witness a very rare thing, you witness a politician who has an ear for eloquence and a tongue dipped in the unvarnished truth."
Ms. Winfrey is, of course, hardly a stranger to speaking before large crowds. But as she explained her support for Mr. Obama's candidacy, she stood behind a lectern, reading from prepared remarks, conceding, "I feel like I'm out of my pew."
"Backstage, someone asked me if I'm nervous," Ms. Winfrey said. "You damn right I'm nervous."
She ticked through a list of Mr. Obama's accomplishments, from his days as a community organizer to a state senator to a U.S. Senator. When she hailed his opposition to the war, "long before it was the popular thing to do," the crowd responded with a roar of approval.
Oprah and the Obamas
CBS News
The audience stood up and roared when Oprah took the stage. She told the crowd, "So much as been said about what my jumping into this arena does or does not bring to the table of politics and I really don't know."
"Despite the speculation and the hype, I understand the difference between a book club and free refrigerators," Oprah said, "I understand the difference between that and this critical moment in our nation's history."
Oprah also told the audience this is the first time that she has been compelled to speak out for a political candidate. "I am not here for partisan beliefs," she said, "Over the years, I have voted for as many Republicans as I have Democrats."
Oprah's Star Power Shines for Obama
Associated Press
Oprah Winfrey said worry about the direction of her country and a personal belief in Barack Obama pushed her to make her first endorsement in a presidential campaign, invaluable support in a tight race for the Democratic nomination.
The weekend "Oprahpalooza" lends A-list star power to Obama's campaign, drawing huge crowds that Obama hopes will turn into his fans. Tens of thousands were expected to turn out for the media diva's Iowa stops and her Sunday visits to South Carolina and New Hampshire with Obama and his wife. In South Carolina, the campaign ran out of the 18,000 tickets originally available for the biggest event and moved it to the 80,000-seat University of South Carolina football stadium.
In Iowa, spectators lined up hours early. Cameras flashed in the capacity crowd during Winfrey's speech, which opened to loud applause and was frequently interrupted by cries of "We love Oprah."
Winfrey said she felt nervous and "out of my pew" as she addressed a gathering hall packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the largest gathering of Iowans in the campaign this year. But she did not hide her political convictions, making an argument for change from the Bush administration other than another Clinton in the White House.
Oprah Winfrey gives Barack Obama the gift of opportunity
LA Times
It was, as they say in campaign vernacular, a "good event" for Barack Obama. With daytime television host -- and one-woman media juggernaut -- Oprah Winfrey as the main drawing card, about 18,000 people jammed into the cavernous HyVee Center here -- an appearance you can read more about in our Web coverage today and in Sunday's print edition.
But it's worth noting that Oprah's presence here this afternoon and in Cedar Rapids tonight, and then in South Carolina and New Hampshire on Sunday, could well afford Obama a breakthrough moment for his campaign. And not because Oprah leads people to make consumer choices, though there has been a lot of that.
What Oprah brought Obama was the physical presence of people so that he could make his own case. And he rose to the occasion with a forceful version of his stump speech before thousands of people, many of whom entered undecided or backing other candidates.
For all the importance of the Iowa caucuses in setting the course of both parties' nomination fights, they are rather small events. In 2004, about 122,000 Democrats caucused in 1,781 precincts, an average of 68 Democrats per precinct. So come caucus night, the addition of just a handful of supporters in a single precinct here can turn it for a candidate -- especially in a race that polls show as a statistical tie among Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards.
Oprah draws Iowa crowds for Democrat Obama
Reuters
Families, college students and groups of women filed into the cavernous room to see the candidate and the daytime TV star who are both from Chicago and both black.
"I wanted to see both of them, but Oprah sealed the deal, let's face it," said Des Moines administrative assistant Sarah Albracht, 35, an undecided voter. Albracht said Winfrey's endorsement might help convince her to support Obama.
"I like the fact that she's been in every socioeconomic category ... both wealth and poverty, so yeah, her opinion means more than a lot of other people," she said.
Obama campaign spokesman Josh Earnest said some 23,000 free tickets had been distributed. Attendees had to provide their name, address and phone number and could trade a promise of four hours of volunteer service for spots closer to the stage.
The rally's publicity may give Obama an extra burst of momentum in Iowa which on January 3 kicks off voting to choose the Republican and Democratic candidates who will face off in the November 2008 presidential election.
Will Oprah's support give Obama a boost?
Dallas Morning News
As Oprah Winfrey prepares to join Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign this weekend, political pundits are wondering whether she will make a difference.
Kristin Thompson, a high school senior in Dallas, doesn't wonder. The Oprah factor has already kicked in for her.
"When I heard about him being endorsed by Ms. Winfrey, it made me look at him differently," said Ms. Thompson, 17. "There is someone I also admire who is on his side."