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Oprah's hot -- real hot -- on the campaign trail. A new report revealed that Oprah's show is getting more TV ads from the presidential campaigns than any other program except for news broadcasts.Oprah's already played a critical role in the election. After she endorsed Barack Obama this past May, more than a million votes swung the candidate's way. And since Alaska governor Sarah Palin accepted the Republican vice presidential nomination two weeks ago, the fight to win the support of women, particularly working class white women, is fiercer than ever.
That's what makes Oprah such a powerful tastemaker. A fall 2007 Nielsen Media research report estimated that of Oprah's 8.6 million viewers, 75 percent were women, about half of whom made less than $40,000 per year. Many of her viewers consider Oprah a major source of news and information, which is why some were miffed to learn last week that she wouldn't be interviewing Palin on her show.
While she admitted that Palin would be a "fantastic" interview, Oprah said she would only interview her after the election because she had pledged not to use her TV show to promote any political candidate. But fans are sharply divided over her decision. Nearly 500 responded to the news via her Web site -- some accusing Oprah of hypocrisy because she openly supports Barack Obama and had him on the show twice before he announced his candidacy.
So, does Oprah's opinion matter to you?
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Tuesday 16 September
By Me
No, Oprah's opinion does not matter to me - not personally, anyhow. What matters is if she moves people - and it seems that she does.
She is, of course, not obligated to take any guest she does not care to - though I don't feel that it's clear that she's made a good - or bad - decision. She has stated her preference - and personally, I think it may be because she might not be able to convey the objectivity she probably feels bound to, as a conscionable person in a position of power.
That's my opinion, though. I don't blame her. I don't watch her, really, either. But of all of her viewership, 500 voices does not seem particularly ground-shaking.
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