CBS Poll: Oprah's Support May Help Obama

31% Say Talk Show Host's Support Helps Obama, 63% Say It Won't Matter

(CBS)  Sen. Barack Obama trails his chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton, in the national polls, but the Illinois senator is the first choice of one of America’s most popular and influential celebrities.

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey in May announced her support for Obama, and on Saturday celebrated her favorite candidate with a private gala fundraiser at her palatial California estate in the coastal enclave of Montecito.

A new CBS News poll finds that Winfrey's endorsement may pay dividends for Obama.

Thirty-one percent of registered voters say that most people they know would be more likely to vote for Obama for president because Oprah has endorsed him, according to the poll. Only 3 percent say it would make most people they know less likely to vote for him.

But, most - 63 percent - do not think the endorsement will make any difference.

WILL OPRAH’S ENDORSEMENT OF BARACK OBAMA
MAKE MOST PEOPLE YOU KNOW…?

(Among registered voters)
More likely to vote for him
31%
Less likely to vote for him
3%
Won't matter
63%

Not surprisingly, Obama supporters are more likely than Clinton supporters to think that the Oprah endorsement will make a positive difference among other voters - 45 percent think so, as opposed to slightly over half who think it will not.

But, a sizable minority of Americans planning to vote for Clinton in their state's Democratic primary said that Oprah's endorsement will make people more inclined to vote for Obama.

WILL OPRAH’S ENDORSEMENT OF BARACK OBAMA
MAKE MOST PEOPLE YOU KNOW…?

(Among Clinton supporters)
More likely to vote for him
29%
Less likely to vote for him
2%
Won't matter
66%

Thirty-one percent of registered voters who consider themselves Republicans and 27 percent of voters who consider themselves Independents said the endorsement would make people more inclined to vote for Obama.

[memerider]

Obama seems well-prepared to at least engage with other leaders on some of the issues. My greatest concern is his anti-second amendment stance. He continues to ignore world-wide statistics that suggest gun control doesn''t work and only limits access to tools of self-defense by law-abiding citizens, particularly women, the handicapped, elderly, those of short stature, etc. That single issue is enough to make me think of voting for someone else. I''m pretty attached to my rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

[kansas1946]

Go Barack. This guy has the qualities that all of us would like to see in a president, and that we sorely missed in this current president. I am not a Democrat, but I am hoping that the Democrats are courageous enough and smart enough to nominate him. If they do, I will certainly vote for him. With Hillary, I am not so sure. That will depend on the Republican. With Obama, my vote is a done deal.

[aschifter]

Obama reminds me of the finer qualities of so many great presidents. Funny enough I thought three years ago that if a woman or a minority would have a shot at the presidency it would be Oprah. Now she may be the one who essentially is garnering all of that potential and passing it on to Obama. Good for her for finally taking a proactive role in the future leadership of our nation. Everything about Obama%u2019s campaign makes me so proud of America. I think this Nation is at the advent of a period of greatness that seems almost biblical in its profound importance.

Adam Schifter

[aschifter]

Obama reminds me of the finer qualities of so many great presidents. Funny enough I thought three years ago that if a woman or a minority would have a shot at the presidency it would be Oprah. Now she may be the one who essentially is garnering all of that potential and passing it on to Obama. Good for her for finally taking a proactive role in the future leadership of our nation. Everything about Obama%u2019s campaign makes me so proud of America. I think this Nation is at the advent of a period of greatness that seems almost biblical in its profound importance.

Adam Schifter

[aschifter]

Obama reminds me of the finer qualities of so many great presidents. Funny enough I thought three years ago that if a woman or a minority would have a shot at the presidency it would be Oprah. Now she may be the one who essentially is garnering all of that potential and passing it on to Obama. Good for her for finally taking a proactive role in the future leadership of our nation. Everything about Obama%u2019s campaign makes me so proud of America. I think this Nation is at the advent of a period of greatness that seems almost biblical in its profound importance.

Adam Schifter

[dinslc]

anchomanuco,

Obama is ALREADY getting things done in washington.

Obama has passed more bills than Hillary Clinton or John Edwards, and has held elected office longer than either Clinton or Edwards.

Obama has experience working in a bipartisan way to get (among many other things) strong ethics bills passed in Illinois, and now in the us senate.

I like the fact that Obama has experience in lawmaking but NOT as much in washington "working the system" (s Hillary called it). He is also a constituional law expert, and has the respect of his republican associates.

Obama has the constitutional law knowledge to repair the damage done to the constitution by this administration, and the know how- to be bipartisan to get the support of republicans in order to get things done.

Look up Obama''s record and history. He is more qualified than Hillary Clinton or John Edwards to be president.

Obama is experienced, has great judgement, is smart, level-headed, and qualified to be president.

These are the reasons Oprah and so many others support Obama.

[dinslc]

anchomanuco,

Obama is ALREADY getting things done in washington.

Obama has passed more bills than Hillary Clinton or John Edwards, and has held elected office longer than either Clinton or Edwards.

Obama has experience working in a bipartisan way to get (among many other things) strong ethics bills passed in Illinois, and now in the us senate.

I like the fact that Obama has experience in lawmaking but NOT as much in washington "working the system" (s Hillary called it). He is also a constituional law expert, and has the respect of his republican associates.

Obama has the constitutional law knowledge to repair the damage done to the constitution by this administration, and the know how- to be bipartisan to get the support of republicans in order to get things done.

Look up Obama''s record and history. He is more qualified than Hillary Clinton or John Edwards to be president.

Obama is experienced, has great judgement, is smart, level-headed, and qualified to be president.

These are the reasons Oprah and so many others support Obama.

[mattk551]

Barack Obama is a genuine politician who can clearly write and express his points validly. His inspiration and positive spirit has led many people to follow his mission of Hope and Change. However, this person before me is most likely a conservative status quo Baby Boomer struggling with their narrow-mindedness. It just shows you that America has a lot of growing to do in order to prosper as a nation. Good Luck