By Staff
Robert Kittle, Media General News Service
Robert Kittle, Media General News Service
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Stumble It!- Political scientist says biggest effect likely getting people to look at Obama
Oprah Winfrey's star power helped draw the biggest crowd that Barack Obama has seen in his campaign to Williams-Brice stadium in Columbia Sunday. Stadium management said there were more than 29,000 people in the stands.
Oprah told her fans that she's never endorsed a politician before, but she's inspired by Obama, who's running for the Democratic nomination for president.
"I'm not here to tell you what to think," she told the crowd. "A lot of people say...am I thinking this is going to be like my book club? You know, I get lots of people to read books. That's a very good thing. But I got some sense. I know the difference between a book club and this seminal moment in our history."
Some who came to the rally say Oprah's endorsement will get them to vote for Obama. 18-year-old Brandon Greene says, "I think it can definitely swing the vote toward him."
University of South Carolina political scientist Dr. Blease Graham says what makes this situation so noteworthy is Oprah's fan base of millions. "This is unique. I mean, this ranks right up there as one of those endorsements that could make a difference in a candidate's fortunes in this state," he says.
Oprah's appeal is primarily to women, who make up 75 percent of her television audience, and women voters will also play a very big role in the state's Democratic primary. But her appeal crosses, racial, gender and demographic lines.
Graham says, "A marginal influence, maybe 1 out of 5 persons might actually say, 'The appearance of Oprah Winfrey caused me to vote for Senator Obama in the preference primary'. So there is some effect, but I think most of it is name recognition calling attention to Obama, getting people to look at him, look at his record and compare him to some of the other candidates in the field."
But he says Obama is not the only candidate with a unique endorsement. He says it's very unusual for a former president to actively campaign for any candidate, as Bill Clinton is doing for Hillary. But just having a former First Lady run for president is already making history.
The latest polls show Clinton and Obama in first and second place in South Carolina.
(Robert Kittle is a reporter with WSPA-TV, a Media General TV station in Spartanburg-Greenville, SC)
Oprah told her fans that she's never endorsed a politician before, but she's inspired by Obama, who's running for the Democratic nomination for president.
"I'm not here to tell you what to think," she told the crowd. "A lot of people say...am I thinking this is going to be like my book club? You know, I get lots of people to read books. That's a very good thing. But I got some sense. I know the difference between a book club and this seminal moment in our history."
Some who came to the rally say Oprah's endorsement will get them to vote for Obama. 18-year-old Brandon Greene says, "I think it can definitely swing the vote toward him."
University of South Carolina political scientist Dr. Blease Graham says what makes this situation so noteworthy is Oprah's fan base of millions. "This is unique. I mean, this ranks right up there as one of those endorsements that could make a difference in a candidate's fortunes in this state," he says.
Oprah's appeal is primarily to women, who make up 75 percent of her television audience, and women voters will also play a very big role in the state's Democratic primary. But her appeal crosses, racial, gender and demographic lines.
Graham says, "A marginal influence, maybe 1 out of 5 persons might actually say, 'The appearance of Oprah Winfrey caused me to vote for Senator Obama in the preference primary'. So there is some effect, but I think most of it is name recognition calling attention to Obama, getting people to look at him, look at his record and compare him to some of the other candidates in the field."
But he says Obama is not the only candidate with a unique endorsement. He says it's very unusual for a former president to actively campaign for any candidate, as Bill Clinton is doing for Hillary. But just having a former First Lady run for president is already making history.
The latest polls show Clinton and Obama in first and second place in South Carolina.
(Robert Kittle is a reporter with WSPA-TV, a Media General TV station in Spartanburg-Greenville, SC)