Oprah power for ObamaWednesday, December 5, 2007
The South Carolina Gamecocks haven't filled Columbia's Colonial Center yet this season. But Illinois Sen. Barack Obama — with a lot of help from his friend Oprah Winfrey — evidently will fill it Sunday. Though that expected 12:30 p.m. capacity crowd of 18,000 (all the tickets were gone by Monday) will get free admission, Ms. Winfrey's proven drawing power extends to selling high-priced tickets. For instance, 22 months ago, the queen of daytime TV talk shows quickly sold out the approximately 2,300 seats at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center at $125 a ticket for a "Live Your Best Life" presentation that included a workshop designed to "inspire and motivate." Ms. Winfrey's aim in Columbia Sunday will be to inspire and motivate South Carolinians to vote for Sen. Obama in the Jan. 26 Democratic presidential primary. Why is he the first presidential candidate for whom she has ever campaigned? She told The New York Times earlier this year: "I believe in this person." The Obama camp understandably believes that Ms. Winfrey's campaign help is a major coup. Sure, celebrity endorsements rarely decide elections. Yet they can persuade some fans of politically enthused celebrities to consider giving candidates they otherwise would have ignored a fair hearing. And if you don't think Ms. Winfrey wields potentially formidable political influence, check out how many "Oprah Book Club" selections have made the best-seller lists — and how many people will show up at the Colonial Center Sunday. |
Article tools Write a letter to the Editor |
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 2 comment(s)
Posted by healthvotR on December 5, 2007 at 12:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The bad news for Obama is that the strings attached to this and other Oprah events are beginning to get negative media attention.
The tickets for the 18,000 people attending the rally at Columbia's Colonial Center include a pledge to vote for Obama, according to a NYT article at http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/...
Even worse is the situation in Iowa, where people have to pledge to volunteer or caucus for Obama.
For those of us who are not familiar with how Iowa caucuses work, <b>there is no secret ballot</b>. http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/11/...
I'm all for Oprah using her celebrity to encourage people to listen to and consider Barack Obama. But she should not ask for a pledge to volunteer, vote or caucus for him until the voters have had the chance to hear him, consider his message, compare it to that of the other candidates, and then decide for themselves. Free of coercion.
Obama would be wise to put an end to what some people think amounts to buying votes.
Requiring an unenforceable, possibly illegal, pledge is not only a disservice to voters and the free election process, but to Senator Obama himself.
He risks losing a lot more votes than he will gain the more attention this stunt receives.
Posted by Mon_Kie on December 5, 2007 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh..Oprah backs Obama...
how many simpleminded women will vote for him because of her endorsement?