Oprah-Obama double bill largest political NH rally in recent memory

[ClarkUSA]

The Obama campaign states there were over 8,500 people in the crowd tonight for the O-O Manchester, NH rally. Here are two
reports:

Political pundits say celebrity endorsements don’t make a difference, but the queen of daytime talk may re-write the rules on that.

Bonnie Longual, 41, was there with three generations of Oprah fans. “I want to see why she supports him. I believe in her words.
Just because Oprah believes in him, maybe there’s more to him.” Jo Jensen, 22, who spent four hours in a folding chair, wrapped
in a down comforter, said, “I like Barack Obama and I’m a huge fan of Oprah, so it’s a win-win situation.”

“Oprah is a side treat but Barack is definitely why I’m here,” said Joel Green, 57, of Peterborough, N.H. “She’s a conduit. She’ll get
people into the house to hear him.”

Oprah took the stage to deafening cheers. "This man has something to offer this country,” she said... “We can vote Martin Luther
King Jr.’s dream into reality.” But the experts are divided over whether the “Oprah-palooza” can turn Obama into a political bestseller.
“It absolutely helps him in the primary,” said Michael Goldman, a political science lecturer at Tufts University. “But in the presidential
vote, it doesn’t make a difference.” Others say Oprah is the difference.“For decades we have not seen celebrities make any impact
from this kind of endorsement. But if there is an exception to that rule, it is going to be Oprah and Obama,” said Larry J. Sabato of
the University of Virginia. “I have never seen anything like this Oprah-palooza!”

<snip>

But Oprah’s pulling power was unquestionable. While primary candidates usually consider a crowd of a couple hundred a good showing,
more than 18,000 people turned out for Oprah and Obama in Iowa, and 29,000 in South Carolina. In Manchester, all 12,000 tickets
reportedly sold out last night for the biggest primary event in the Granite State’s history...

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/2008/view.bg?articleid=1049840

The event was also remarkable for its stagecraft. Over 30 television cameras, blaring music, grand, long entrances from both Oprah
and Obama with standing ovations added to the idea that something was different about this rally... Obama started strong... as
he closed in on his final lines he got people back to their feet.

It is still very unclear what all of this -- the crowd size and pomp -- mean for his campaign, voters, or even the retail politics
reputation of New Hampshire.

Yet there was an authenticity in Oprah's voice. When she described Obama to the crowd nodded their heads.

"Ain't you tired of the old way of politics," Winfrey asked. The crowd responded "Yes."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007/12/oprahobama_doub.html

Also, check out NBC Nightly News' report on Obama's rapid gains in the early states and on the Obama-Oprah weekend events:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWCAkKw9lB0&eurl=http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/ObamaHQ/

Yes!! :D

[silverweb]

1. I see you've been busy, too.

At the rate you're going, you'll find video before I do!

And at the rate Team Obama is picking up steam, I think the news is going to keep getting better and better....

[ClarkUSA]

3. lol!

I'm looking for print stories mostly. I got the YouTube video right off the NH blog but couldn't find any other video. Frustrating... you'd think
someone would've posted video by now. The O-mentum is gathering speed - no inertia there. There's an old political formula for winning
Iowa: "Organization, organization, organization, and getting hot at the end!" Sounds like Obama is following the formula right. :-)

[silverweb]

4. That's an awesome formula.

I never heard that one before, but I love it. :D

My eyes have had it... time to go shut 'em for a few hours. G'nite....


Keep the faith....

[patrice]

2. I'd like to survey those crowds on the subject of Obama's

health care plan; find out what they know about it.

[glowing]

5. Was it Martin Luther King's dream to have Obama in the White House,

or was it his dream that man would be judged by their quality and not by their skin color.. That we would all look at one another as one species and embrace humanity... Equality and Freedom...

[silverojo]

6. I watched it

But I was disappointed that Obama was so long on rhetoric and so short on specifics of how he would achieve his goals for America. :(