Oprah Winfrey's endorsement of Senator Barack Obama was one of the most widely covered and studied developments of the 2008 presidential campaign, as she has been described as the most influential woman in the world.[1][2][3] Winfrey first endorsed Senator Obama in September 2006 before he had even declared himself a candidate. In May 2007 Winfrey made her official endorsement of candidate Obama, and in December 2007, she made her first campaign appearances for him. Two economists estimate that Winfrey's endorsement was worth over a million votes in the Democratic primary race[4] and that without it, Obama would have received fewer votes.[5] Then-Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich claimed that the endorsement was so significant in making Obama president-elect that he considered offering Obama's former seat in the Senate to Winfrey.[6]
- ^ Meldrum Henley-on-Klip, Andrew (January 3, 2007). "'Their story is my story' Oprah opens $40m school for South African girls". The Guardian. London. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
- ^ Doyle, Leonard (September 7, 2007). "Oprah throws house party to aid Obama bid". The Independent. London. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ "The most influential US liberals: 1–20". The Daily Telegraph. London. October 31, 2007. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ Levitt, Steven D. (August 6, 2008). "So Much for One Person, One Vote". The New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
- ^ The Role of Celebrity Endorsements in Politics: Oprah, Obama, and the 2008 Democratic Primary Archived February 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "MINA Breaking News – Troubled Illinois Governor wanted Oprah in Senate". Macedoniaonline.eu. January 26, 2009. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2010.