'I'm out of my pew'
IN IOWA FOR OBAMA | Oprah admits she's nervous in unfamiliar political arena
DES MOINES, Iowa -- A nervous Oprah Winfrey left the comfort zone of the media empire she rules to deliver the first political speech of her life for her friend Sen. Barack Obama, telling thousands of Iowa voters, "At last, I'm here.''
The matinee rally at the Hy-Vee Hall here drew an estimated 18,500, according to the Obama campaign, with 10,000 showing up on a frigid evening in Cedar Rapids.
(AP)
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Oprah in Iowa
Winfrey's much-hyped appearance, to be repeated in South Carolina and New Hampshire today, comes as Obama is trending upward in the polls and with the crucial Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses looming.
Winfrey, introduced by Michelle Obama, has never endorsed, much less campaigned for, a candidate.
The senator said it was "hard for her to take the risk of her stepping out of her comfort zone. That takes an act of courage."
Obama's political star power combined with Winfrey's, one of the most influential and richest people in the nation, made for an extraordinary political event. Winfrey's show and magazine appeal to the female voters being fought over by Obama (D-Ill.) and his chief rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).
Winfrey, speaking from notes, at the top of her speech acknowledged the super-buildup to her entree into the political arena.
"You know, so much has been said about what my jumping into this arena does or does not bring to the table of politics," Winfrey said.
"I really don't know. I'm going to leave that all up to the pundits, who will say, 'Will it be the same influence as her book club? Will it be like the "favorite things" show?'
"I don't know about all of that. Despite all of the talk, the speculation and the hype, I understand the difference between a book club and a free refrigerator. ... I understand the difference between that and this critical moment in our nation's history."
For Obama, the gift Winfrey is giving the campaign is not so much her untested ability to actually persuade people to caucus for Obama, but the enormous advantage her stumping gives the campaign to data-mine for potential supporters and to bolster his field organization.
The talk show queen said, "So I am not here to tell you what to think. I am here to ask you TO think."
Calling her decision to stump for Obama "very, very personal," Winfrey looked around at the sea of people in front of her and said, "It feels like I am out of my pew, I'm out of my terrain. Backstage somebody said, 'Are you nervous?'
"I said, 'You're damn right I'm nervous. Yes I am because I've never done this before.'"
Relatively few Democrats actually caucus in Iowa -- only 124,000 in 2004 -- so a solid ground game is critical to identify potential backers.
To get in the rally, each person had to fill out a name and address card. People were also asked to sign commitment cards. People who declined to sign the commitment card -- but were interested enough to show up -- will make up a ripe new universe of "prime persuadables" the Obama campaign will lobby in the days ahead.
Kay Huston, 67, a Des Moines retiree and undecided Republican open to caucusing for a Democrat, said Winfrey was part of the reason she came. "I had missed other opportunities to see Obama, so I thought, 'I am not going to miss this one.'"
