November 26, 2007
Oprah Won't "Make the Sale," That's Up to Obama
Barack Obama told reporters after an event this morning in Littleton, N.H., that he doesn't expect voters to back him based on his friendship with Oprah Winfrey. But she is an undeniable draw, he said, and will bring some fun and excitement to the trail ... Meanwhile, if Bill Clinton wants to shift loyalties, Obama's interested ...
"Well, you know Oprah's a great friend, obviously she's beloved all across the country," Obama said after an event at Littleton High School. "Ultimately, I think people are going to make a decision based on me, not based on who's endorsing. But people will certainly come to an event to see Oprah, and that means that I've got access to more people, and hopefully can tell them the kind of change that I want to bring about so that people have health care, and we bring our troops home from Iraq. So it helps to create the event, ultimately though, I'm going to have to make the sale to the people to support me," per NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli.
[Q: WHY SHOULD ANYONE MAKE UP THEIR MINDS BASED ON WHAT A CELEBRITY THINKS?]
"Well that's why I said I don't think they should," Obama added.
[Q: THEN WHY BOTHER CAMPAIGNING WITH HER?]
"Well, you know. I think. ... It's fun. Campaigns are not just about issues and policy, but it's also about bringing people together. And this creates excitement and an event. Hopefully we can attract some people who might not otherwise be interested in politics, who aren't regular viewers of C-SPAN. But on the other hand, once they're there, I'm able to talk to them about critical issues like health care, home foreclosures, and things that affect their lives on a day-to-day basis. So I'm very grateful that she's taking the time to do this, and I think it will be a lot of fun."
[Q: HOW IS OPRAH BETTER SURROGATE THAN BILL CLINTON?]
"Bill Clinton's a great surrogate for Hillary as well. And so, if he wanted to endorse me I'd take it. I don't think he will."
Posted at 12:49 PM
Comments
What hostile questions. I know it's old news, but how nice it would have been to hear one or two hostile questions from the press to Bush prior to going into Iraq. But hey, they've got Oprah covered.
cms | 11.26.07 02:10 PM
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