Gazette Online, IA
12-09-07
Obama takes Oprah show to New Hampshire
By James Q. Lynch
The Gazette
james.lynch@gazettecommunications.com
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Santa Claus was there. So was the Snowman from the
CNN/YouTube debate.
Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich backers showed up, too, but were massively
outnumbered by the crowd that filled the Verizon Wireless Center in Manchester,
N.H., tonight to see Illinois Sen. Barack Obama — and Oprah Winfrey.
Linda Booth of Wilton, N.H., a supporter of Obama's bid for the Democratic
presidential nomination, said she tries to attend as many campaign events as
possible and would have come even if he was campaigning alone.
Her friend Laurie Spinosa of Mont Vernon said the opportunity to see the woman
Michelle Obama called the "first lady of television," made a difference to her.
"It won't necessarily impact my decision who to vote for, said Spinosa, who hasn't
decided who to support, but (Winfrey) is a smart woman, so I pay attention."
The Obama campaign hoped others did, too.
Winfrey said she was nervous when she campaigned with Obama Saturday in
Cedar Rapids.
"But I'm beginning to like this," she said.
Winfrey said she "stepped out of my box ¿ and stood up for a candidate who I
believe can change America."
Obama ran with that, reminding his audience he is where he is, Winfrey is where
she is, women have the right to vote and workers can unionize because
someone stood up for them.
Whether Winfrey can do for Obama what she did for sales of William Faulkner's
books remains to be seen.
"It's negotiable at best," according to New Hampshire radio talk show host Arnie
Arnesen, who some Iowans know from her appearances on Iowa State
University political science professor Steffen Schmidt's WOI radio
program.
Oprah is in a class by herself, Arnesen said. More likely many who attended
were there to see a celebrity, not because of politics — theirs, Winfrey's or
Obama's.
That seemed to be the case when Gov. John Lynch asked the crowd of 10,000plus "How many of you are Oprah fans?" They cheered louder than when he
announced the New England Patriots had beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Former Cedar Rapids resident Diana Fallon didn't attend the rally, but doubted
Winfrey would change the minds of Granite State residents.
With the New Hampshire primary 29 days away, Obama "may get some help
with an Oprah bounce," said Fallon, a John Edwards supporter who now lives in
Windham, N.H. "On the other hand, it may just reinforce his rock star image."
Obama campaign officials seemed to do just that with comments that the 10,000
tickets they gave away would make the rally crowd size comparable to concerts
by Justin Timberlake, Aerosmith and Neil Diamond.
"Stars draw crowds," Fallon said. "But I think people in New Hampshire take their
politics as seriously as people in Iowa, so I don't think she will make a big impact.
She won't be holding office."