The Oprah Factor

With Oprah Winfrey's big fundraiser coming up this weekend the question being asked is whether the mega-media star can sway the election toward her candidate Barack Obama.

The last star of Oprah's caliber to get active in electoral politics at this level that I can think of now was Frank Sinatra, who helped both Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Ronald Reagan during their successful campaigns. Sinatra was disenchanted by his Kennedy's standoffish approach after taking office and became a Republican for the rest of his life.

Oprah Winfrey will host a fundraiser for Obama's Democratic presidential campaign at her Montecito, Calif., mansion. (By Kevin Clark -- The Washington Post)

Sinatra was leader of the "Rat Pack" during Kennedy's time and a cultural icons to multiple generations when Reagan first ran for the White House.

Oprah is said that Barack will be the only candidate on her show during the election since fair time laws don't apply to talk shows.

That alone can be a tremendous advantage. In fact, she can support Barack through her entire media network.

There are also reports that Oprah may take a more active role in Obama's campaign. This could include appearing in television ads and at campaign events.

While Sinatra likely appealed mostly to men, Oprah's legions are found among voting age women -- a group particularly powerful in the Democratic Party, and a group that many feel would tend to favor Hillary Clinton as the first woman president. If Oprah can wield the same type of influence as she has shown in other areas, this might help Barack cut into Hillary's base of support.

Obama and Clinton for "Change"

Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton began airing ads together with the same name and theme, "Change."

Hillary's ad is running in New Hamphire, while Barack's ad will air in Iowa.

The Obama ad highlights the candidate's efforts in ethics reform and bring the government back to the people.

Anyone who has closely followed both campaigns from the start will know that Obama for America starting using the "Change" first with a number of events including the "Walk for Change," all organized around the same concept.

Later on, both the Clinton and John Edwards campaign picked up on theme. Edwards for example had a "Change for Change" fundraising drive in which very small donations were solicited for the purpose of bringing about change in government. Here also the Edwards followed the Obama strategy of pursuing a large number of very small donations going down to only $5.

Obama, Clinton back bigger Army

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are supporting an increase in the size of the miiltary to combat charges they are too weak on security according to Wall Street Journal article by Heidi Przybyla.

Obama, Clinton support bigger Army to counter security slams
Bloomberg -
A poll released in March by Third Way, a Washington-based policy research organization, suggests 58 percent of Americans think Democrats are "not tough enough...

Barack Obama campaigns at a fire hall in Waukee, Iowa on Sept. 4.