to me this is WEIRD...
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Political observers say Oprah Winfrey's decision to campaign with Sen. Barack Obama could help him make inroads into what many many consider Sen. Hillary Clinton's natural constituency: women.
Oprah Winfrey, right, appears with Sen. Barack and Michelle Obama during a fundraiser in September.
In a move that may lead voters, particularly women, to take a second look at Obama, the talk show host will join the Democratic presidential candidate on the campaign trail December 8 and 9, Obama's campaign announced.
Winfrey will join Obama during campaign stops in early-voting states Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, the campaign said.
The appearances come just weeks before the crucial Iowa caucus on January 3.
"Oprah takes the idea of a celebrity endorsement to a whole new level. She's not just a superstar. She's a nova," Democratic strategist Jenny Backus told CNN.
"She's not just a Hollywood celebrity. In fact, she's really not Hollywood. She's like the voice of America. She is someone that more American women and men tune in to every day."
Speaking to reporters in Littleton, New Hampshire, Monday, Obama called Winfrey "a great friend," adding that "she is beloved across the country."
"Campaigns are not just about issues and policy but about bringing people together, and this creates excitement and an event and, hopefully, we can attract some people who might not otherwise be interested in politics," Obama said.
Obama, an Illinois Democrat, trails Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination by nearly 20 points in a national CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll conducted November 2-4.
Obama could close that gap if he gets more women, who make up between 52 and 54 percent of Democratic voters, to back his candidacy.
"Hillary Clinton simply seems to be the women's candidate regardless of race," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "I think that's what Obama may really be trying to reach is women -- not white women or black women or any particular race, just women in general.
"Married women, women with children -- those are the ones who tend to turn out and vote," Holland said. "Those are the ones that have more at stake, so they're more willing and eager to go out and vote in primaries and the general election. That tends to be the Oprah audience."
In Iowa, Obama is in a statistical dead heat with Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted November 14-18.
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While Winfrey's campaign stops will generate interest in Iowa, political science professor Stephen Schmidt of Iowa State University doubts it will change the race significantly.
"Iowans never follow the lead of people who come and tell them how to vote," said Schmidt.
But, Schmidt said, Winfrey may generate a little buzz for Obama.
"It will keep attention on Obama, and people will ask why someone as busy as Oprah Winfrey is campaigning for Obama," he said.
Stu Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report agrees that Winfrey is unlikely to change the overall dynamics of the Democratic race.
"I think certainly Oprah can get Sen. Obama some extra media attention, including on shows that don't normally cover politics. She can help him raise some money," Rothenberg said.
"But ultimately the Democratic race comes down to Iowa and New Hampshire and voters in those two states, and they probably aren't going to pay a lot of attention to her endorsement."
"It's a good endorsement, it's a plus," Rothenberg said, "but it's a plus only in the margins." E-mail to a friend
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I mean we all know this woman LAUNCHED The Secret.She EMBRACES the new age.What does this say re OBAMA"S plans/intentions??I know Im australian and what would I know
BUT to me 
this is a worrying step.Women LISTEN to her!
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Shes even fund raised for him!Did you guys know this?
Theres a connection here am sure....
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/o ... tob18.stng
It's party time!
Oprah is lining up celebs for the September soiree she's throwing for Barack Obama at her California mansion that one supporter says will be 'the hottest ticket in town'
July 18, 2007
LYNN SWEET lsweet@suntimes.com
WASHINGTON -- Let's see, what does it mean when Oprah Winfrey hosts a glitzy fund-raiser for her Chicago pal, White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), at her stunning California mansion?
"I know this is going to be the hottest ticket in town," said Yolanda Parker, a Los Angeles area supporter on Obama's national finance committee.
Save-the-date e-mails for Winfrey's Sept. 8 splash at her home in Montecito, a wooded community in Santa Barbara near the Pacific Ocean, just started circulating, setting off yet another round of buzz about celebrity fund-raising in the 2008 presidential contest.
» Click to enlarge image
Oprah Winfrey is holding a Sept. 8 fund-raiser for Sen. Barack Obama at her Santa Barbara, Calif., mansion.
(Copyright 2005/George Burns Harpo/Productions Inc.)
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STAR POWER
With Jamie Foxx and Beyonce possibly attending Oprah's bash for Illinois senator and presidential hopeful Barack Obama, it's time to look at which celebrities have thrown support behind Obama and his chief rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton:
OBAMA
Halle Berry, Oliver Stone, George Clooney
CLINTON
Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, Hugh Hefner
"There will be a reception and a concert with a very special guest," said Parker's e-mail to her "list" of friends.
Calls out to Foxx, Beyonce
Winfrey is taking a personal interest in lining up the entertainment. Calls are going out to Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx and songstress Beyonce.
To get in on the party, the maximum $2,300-per-individual contribution for the primary is being asked. Special VIP access will be given to people who raise $25,000 (they will be called co-hosts), with top bundlers of $50,000 or more to be listed as "hosts" of the event.
Obama and chief rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) have been competing for dollars from the entertainment world, each with their dueling sets of stars.
The two are mega-fund-raisers -- reports filed Sunday showed Clinton has banked $63 million so far and Obama has taken in $58.9 million for the first half of the year. They did so with a big assist from California, where they have frequently dipped into what seems like an unlimited cash well; the Golden State so far has put out $9 million for Clinton and $8.3 million for Obama.
In Beverly Hills -- that is ZIP 90210 -- Clinton has pocketed $463,675 to Obama's $257,488.
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Maybe IM missing the point here but straight away after reading this my first thoought is-THE MAN HAS NO CLASS.
Just a thought.........
But she`s getting a lot of publicity over this. 