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The Oprah Primary?

By Matthew Felling

September 10, 2007 / 1:04 PM EDT / CBS News

(AP)

Just as the number of debates proliferates – the reviews for last night's technically challenged Spanish-language Democratic debate have been withering – another major, very major, media outlet has been removed from the equation: Oprah.

You've probably seen that Oprah and her couch have taken sides in Campaign 2008. The talk-show host has decided to back Barack Obama, going so far as to host a fundraiser this past weekend. Was it profitable? You betcha, to the tune of $3 million. Was it star-studded? According to the Los Angeles Times, oh yeah:

The overwhelmingly African American crowd included distinguished senior figures, including basketball superstar Bill Russell and Academy Award-winning actor Sydney Poitier, and younger stars, including Holly Robinson Peete and cutting-edge comedian Chris Rock. Motown's Stevie Wonder provided the entertainment, singing his hits from the '70s and '80s.

And not only has Oprah made her allegiance clear to the world, she has also decided that she won't invite any other candidates on her program. Denying the other candidates this key forum? That's huge.

So has Obama already won the first unofficial primary of 2008? It's hard to say. The significance of star power in political campaigns is always uncertain. Did Martin Sheen push Howard Dean over the top? Did Bruce Springsteen make the difference for John Kerry?

Yeah … Not so much.

It's beyond debate that Oprah isn't merely a celebrity. She's a media phenomenon with the power to humanize Hollywood celebutantes and move books (books!) like you wouldn't believe.

But who will fill the media void left by her absence? What will be the place where candidates can sit down with such an enormous audience and get their personal side – no matter how contrived – across? Larry King? Not likely. Regis and Kelly? There's only so much you can do in 12 minutes, between Reeg's Notre Dame rants. No, Oprah's show was the destination for candidates who want to flesh out their image. It seems like there's only one spot for candidates to go nowadays where they can show their human side, a place they can spin yarns about their life story. And it's the place where Hillary Clinton showed up last week.

So while I'm not entirely unconvinced that Oprah won't swing some undecideds in a Democratic primary, it's clear that there's already one true winner of Oprah's September Primary: Ellen DeGeneres, who will likely welcome the serious candidates with open arms.

If not, maybe they'll bring Danza back?