The Oprah Effect: One Million Votes, Study Says

How much did Oprah Winfrey's endorsement help Barack Obama? Quite a lot, a new study concludes. Economists at the University of Maryland find that Oprah's endorsement brought Obama 1,015,559 votes. The researchers linked subscriptions to Oprah's magazine and participation in her book club to increased voter participation.

The study concludes:

The results of this study suggest that Oprah Winfrey's endorsement of Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary had statistically and politically significant effects on Obama's political outcomes. Winfrey's involvement increased the share of the vote and the campaign contributions received by Obama, as well as the overall level of voter participation.

The whole study can be read here.

Comments

[fishsandwichesr2good]

Ok, Oprah gains subscriptions from endorsing Obama and the theory is that these are therefore voter gains from BO? I'm concluding that these kinds of morons were already in the BO camp.

[lady49]

ok Forest Gump......

[RaraAvis17]

Actually subscriptions are down on Oprah's magazine. Probably due to the recession or whiners that can't afford her magazine anymore and would prefer to eat instead.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/29/o-the-oprah-magazine-in-t_n_115580.html

[bluesnot]

Are there similar studies that look at Fox and Friends, Rush or 0'Reilly?

[Triangle1]

What Oprah giveth, Tyra taketh away. http://mespace.wordpress.com

[lady49]

Keep dreaming.....
I lkie TYRA but she is NO OPRAH.....

OPRAH IS AN WILL REMAIN QUEEN OF TALK SHOW UNTIL SHE (OPRAH) DECIDES "WHEN"

GO OPRAH!!!!!!!!
WE LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!

You were helping women when no one cared..... You carried the torch for us when it wasn't fashionable and you propelled our causes back to CENTER STAGE... and for that WE THANK YOU!!!!!

[UnknownSoldier]

Tyra is a Supermodel, yeah, the majority of professional working women can relate to that, right along with house wives.

[RaraAvis17]

Ha! I'm no Oprah lover, but that ain't going to happen....

[KeysDan]

Let's get these University of Maryland economists on our payroll, fast. They are good--no art, all science, titrating the qualitative so quantitatively.

[luvobama]

Here in Ca, the newly registered young voters are turning out in record numbers. Saw it on our local news. I'd love it if someone could actually find the hard numbers across the country. I think Oprah did have an effect. She's one of many who got people to pay attention. If you notice, she hasn't really drawn attention to herself after introducing O and endorsing him. I love her and him.

[jrterrier]

but young voters aren't devotees of oprah.

[luvobama]

Beg pardon. My daughters, their friends and my daughter in law all like Oprah. Try speaking for yourself.

[DesertLight]

I accept the fact that O has done a lot of good. He represents a new generation and the benefits of living in this country. I love the way the younger people have gotten involved.

However, it was never a mystery which way CA was going to go in the general election. You can register every last person in the state and have them all vote, nothing will be any different than what was expected from the get go.

[luvobama]

But wouldn't you say this trend is happening across the country? O and HRC rocked the vote big time during the primaries. It is continuing. And yes Ca was always going to go Dem. We've been ahead of the curve for a long time. Fresh air and fresher food. Peace.

[beboy]

It's pathetic that anyone would choose a president under the influence of Oprah.

[luvobama]

Simple thought for a simple man.

[fishsandwichesr2good]

vs. "hmm, that cow Oprah endorsed BO -- think I'll vote for him"

[kevenhusseinseven]

Is it pathetic that Oprah can persuade people to participate?

[DesertLight]

NO, but one would think that the candidate would be able to do that convincing his or herself.

I personally don't have anything against Opr@h. She has done a world of good for so many people. I think all this endorsement stuff of late is out of control. I never vote for a candidate because of who does or doesn't endorse the candidate.

[mredder4]

Yeah, actually, it is. It means that there are people who will ignore elected policians who say "get out and vote", they will ignore everything they've (supposedly) learned in school about being civic-minded and exercising their rights, and they will disregard their friends and family telling them to get involved, but when the TV host of their Book of the Month club show says vote, they vote. That IS pathetic, because it means that they're voting for the wrong reasons. It also means that they're more likely to vote like Oprah than to just get out and vote, which means that she's basically telling a million people to vote, how to do it, and who to do it for, all at once. If that doesn't strike you as odd or disturbing, then you don't truly understand the danger of one person having the power to influence that many votes and the problems it represents for America.

[beboy]

That a vapid TV "personality" could influence anyone to do anything is pathetic!

[luvobama]

There is never anything wrong with getting people to participate. The more people are involved the more they will get informed. I bribed my 18 year old children and their friends with a homecooked meal to register to vote. Gues what? They're all registered. They are all taking this election pretty seriously. Don't know and don't care how they vote, just as long as they vote.

[alieninvader]

Most of the reasons we choose a president are pathetic. Please tell us the reasoning that brought you to your decision...

[suzyhein]

yes, i would much rather they be persuaded by crooked old rightwingwhite male politicians

[bluesnot]

Are you saying Ob@ma is under Opr@h's influence? Not clear.

[anneinwa]

OBAMA SUPPORTERS – WE NEED TO CHANGE THE MEDIA CHATTER - THIS ELECTION IS NOT A GAME AND IT'S NOT ABOUT OPRAH (although, thanks Oprah!)

THE PRESS TELLS US MCCAIN IS A WAR HERO - We KNOW him, they say. However,

MCCAIN DESERTED HIS INJURED WIFE AND CHILDREN (is that reported? it's old news, but McCAIN IS OLD)

That might be seen as a "maverick" kinda' thing to do - DESERTING THE INJURED WOMAN WHO WAITED FOR YOU! BUT What about your kids, John? Actions reflect your judgment and character. See pictures of the FIRST McCAIN FAMILY HERE:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html

THE PRESS SHOULD FILL IN THE HOLES IN THE MCCAIN BIOGRAPHY!

The press folks describe JMc as a "war hero". They tell us this race is a referendum on Obama and give NO coverage to McCain's truly bad judgment and behavior toward his FIRST FAMILY. John has been “given a pass” by the pundits. WHILE JMc SPENDS HIS MONEY TRYING TO DEGRADE OBAMA'S CHARACTER, the "reporters" tell us we KNOW JOHN McCAIN. I believe we should scream until his life is as publicly scrutinized, by the media, as Barack Obama's has been. Read about and see pictures of McCain's FIRST FAMILY HERE:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-divorce11-2008jul11,0,5924926,full.sto

[Prism]

She paid a dear price for her political activism: eroding viewership, and a tanking magazine.

[Clevelanded]

A good story... but those trends had started about two years ago... before her "political activism." Oprah has been on top (and so far on top) for so long people are praying (particularly competing media) for her downfall.

[luvobama]

I'm sure of it. I think she might not be the richest woman in her industry. Yeah right. Give it a rest. Like everything else, the msm tries to make something out of nothing.

[suzyhein]

link please to those claims.

[tony2008]

she is still the #1 show. It is just not growing as fast as it used to.

[toocoldout]

Everyone in TV syndication has seen a major decline in viewership (except for Judge Judy). Oprah however remains #1.

[rollingdivision]

Why isn't Obama leading by double digits? Why isn't he running away with this?

[kay]

Why are you posing fake questions?

Just post the McCain Bonus Round talking point. Skip the preamble. It's boring.

[gg3]

Go Oprah! Keep your passion and values driving you. I know you dont listen to people like Prism.
Be patient rollingdiv we will start to see double digits post DNC and solid double digits post the first debate.

[Ashall]

Pollsters won't know how big a margin Obama leads by because they don't have any access to the youthful voters of our country who don't have anything but cellphones and would never be home long enough to take a survey on a land line. They also don't have access to those of us with caller ID who screen out unwanted calls. Many voters have already made their decisions but don't wish to participate in polls. What's left? The over-70 crowd who are home all the time with land-lines who are more prone to vote McCain. Let's just hope all this money McCain has spent on ads will help the economy a bit as they give us no specific reasons why McCain deserves our vote.

[heyjoe]

After all the crap that has been thrown at him by John McCain and the Repubs, The Clintons, T.V. talking idiot-heads, etc. the questions should really be...How is he still standing?

The man has a strong constitution, fortitude and strenght that neither the Republicans nor Americans have not seen in a long time.

Obama is TUFF and the Repubs can not spin that their way.
He is not going down like they thought he would.

[luvobama]

He is.

[Coinyer101]

thank you,oprah!you go girlfriend!

[DaOne]

Im not a big fan of Oprah but if she can get more voters out for O in November, go for it.

[roshni]

Well done Oprah! Barack is the best.

[BigLib]

The Barry soundbite of the day:

“America is no longer what it could be, what it once was.” Contrast that with Mrs. Grievence from a few months ago:

“For the first time in my adult life I’m really proud of my country.” So, America was better once upon a time, but not any time during the past 25 years.

So when was this magic time?

[kay]

They're aspirational, the Obamas. I know that incites a sneer from the Right, but then nearly everything incites a sneer from the Right.

I just watched McCain's new attack ad. No mention of John McCain. None.

The face of conservatism is a sneer. It's ugly.

I can't figure out why you're so pleased with yourselves. What merits this disdain you hold for the rest of the country? Your incredible accomplishments the last 8 years? The huge success that is the realization of the Conservative Movement? What are you bragging about?

[Grunty1]

Except theft and death, that starts them cheering

[roald]

Yes there was a mention of John McCain. Something along the lines of "I'm John McCain and I approved this ad." I wish you could be accurate:>)

[DesertLight]

You last few lines are pretty hard to defend. While I like the basic core principles of the Republican Charter, it is hard to find a Rep., that adheres to those principles. I am not happy with the leadership. I am not happy with W's "Management by Hand Wave Methodology." I was not for the war in Ir@q. I happen to work in the education field and can tell you that NCLB is a train wreck. There is a lot to be angry at on both sides.

[Clevelanded]

Checkmate.

[DesertLight]

You failed to mention that the "Soundbite of the Day," was given to a 7 yr old girl asking a question. What she found out is that America is a bad place. Stark awakening for a young lady. Why couldn't he have said, "Because America is the greatest place on earth and I love my country?"

[kay]

Baloney. No concern for "the children" who are subjected to John McCain's daily barrage of cynical, lying campaign ads.

Who do you think you're kidding with this phony sanctimony?

[Coinyer101]

because that's not true anymore.sorry,you people failed.we used to have morals.now,our elected officials tap their feet in bathroom stalls.

[Clevelanded]

Because that sort of misguided self-congratulation substituted for actual patriotism, that is trying to build a better and more perfect union is what got Bush re-elected.

[suzyhein]

seriously DL, what does the Mookie comment mean?

[luvobama]

Since when have you gone positive? When you are choosing someone else's words? I have never heard you speak one nice, decent thing and now you want to advise. Please. Go away.

[williamg]

I guess you haven't been paying attention the last 7 years. Let me give you a run down:

More than doubling our national debt.
Loss of surplus
Creation of deficit
War in Iraq that has made us less safe
Out of control spending by Republicans
Mishandling war in Afghanistan
Huge trade deficits
Loss of industrial might
Plummeting Dollar
Banking crisis
Housing crisis

The magic time was before a certain Republican was in the White House. As a Republican, aren't you ashamed of what your party has done, or do you feel that the last 7 years have been the "magic time".

Try making sense.

[Clevelanded]

You left out the 1000 running scandals this administration has going.

[suzyhein]

he means pre faux-patriot act

[luvobama]

Wow. If that sound bite scares you, how 'bout this: Not only have I not been proud of my country for a long,long time. I have been downright ashamed of it more often than not. I am deeply ashamed of my fellow Americans for their complete disregard for other human beings, the overt racism in our country and the blind subjugation we so readily accept. As for the magic time, I'm still waiting. Hopefully in November. Peace

[Jazz42]

Well Stated.
(luvobama)
I luv him also

[williamg]

A post by BradPittsburg back on Dec 7:

"I do not like to see one party in charge of everything, but until the Democrats learn how to lead I feel that would be best for the country if the Republicans were in charge of it all with Fred Thompson as president." - posted Dec 08, 2007 at 17:39:28


Hey Brad, can you think of a bigger celebrity than Fred Thompson?

[dennyd]

Hey Brad-- is that because the Republicans have done such a terrific job on the economy, the war, the image of America, the loss of civil liberties, etc etc for the past eight years while they were in charge??

[williamg]

According to Brad, only Fred Thompson (?!) can fix our problems.

[kay]

Yeah. That's a great idea. Another conservative lawyer who is a partisan hack. Isn't Fred Thompson the noted legal scholar who tried to fix the Nixon investigation?

Bring him in. By all means. They're aren't nearly enough crooked conservative lawyers skulking around DC.

[Grunty1]

LOL, the laziest politican is going to be in charge?

[kcmookie]

Man, I get so tired of my wife and Mother in Law always saying "Oprah said this" and "Oprah said that" and "you know what Oprah did today". It gets really old. I appreciate her positive influence, but I sure don't need her telling me how to live my life and I am sure there are countless menout there that feel the same way. It is nice to actually agree with her on something, GOBAMA!

[checkitout]

Go O-prah. Don't forget to help him campaign after the convention.

[jhamm1]

Indeed.

Personally, I think that Oprah's perceived wisdom has been highly overrated, and thus far too many impressionable middle-aged white females are far too inclined to follow her advice no matter what. Nevertheless, an endorsement from her does not make Obama the wrong candidate for the job, and if his forthcoming(crossed-fingers) presidency is ultimately secured on the basis of people doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, than so be it.

[heyjoe]

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The woman is a (Selfmade) Billionaire. I think she has a lot to contribute to the lives of us all. And personally, I listening.

[Seattlelite]

There's a whole host of worst people I think of other than Oprah who could be influencing peoples lives.

[Topfeeder]

The flipside........my son and husband are always quoting super jocks and coaches to me.

[TheMastadon]

BradPittsburgh - Tell me, tell all of us why YOU think we went to war in Iraq... don't ask a qeustion in response, answer this one please I'm begging.

[luvobama]

He won't answer. Sorry. I have asked him several times who he wants for Prez. He doesn't know how to go positive. Just silly little comments meant to make people angry. I feel a little bit sorry for him. Can you imagine never having a lunch break from hatefulness? Sad.