Oprah and Obama. Obama and Oprah.
OK, enough alliteration.
Here's my question. With Oprah's announcement that not only is she officially supporting Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, but will also campaign for him, where does that leave the other candidates?
Because isn't a nod from Oprah the uber-endorsement? The one that lifts otherwise mid-level books into the best-seller category? The one that gets you your own syndicated television deal?
One has to wonder, what the nod from one of the wealthiest American TV personalities can give to a campaign that's close to, but not quite, hitting on all cylinders according to the polls?
Or, I suppose another way to look at it is this -- how does the Oprah imprimatur impact Hillary, Edwards and all the other Democrats?
While many of us are clearly happy to follow Oprah on her reading recommendations, will her first-ever official foray into the political arena solidify her position as America's opinion maker or will it make her loving fans rebel?
It's one thing to take her advice for which book is going to sit on our nightstands or which shows she thinks will hit with American audiences. But I have a feeling politics may be taking Oprah's fiefdom a bit too far. This one has "backfire" written all over it. To me, it seems like Oprah is trying to take her influence a bit too far.
It's one thing to have fund-raisers and support a candidate. But for some reason it just doesn't feel right to have the queen of daytime TV stumping for a candidate and bestowing the official Oprah seal of approval. She knows the influence she has. And I suppose Oprah must think it's her right and responsibility to use it for a candidate she really believes in.
But for some reason, I just can't get over the feeling that her recommendations should stay in the bra and jean intervention categories. Her legions trust her on those things, but maybe she's taking her influence a bit too far by designating Obama the official Oprah candidate.
So I ask you -- if you read Oprah's books and put your faith in her advice on fashion, can you make the political leap to go with her political leanings?
Joanne is also pondering more politics at her personal blog PunditMom and PunditMom's Spin Cycle.