Will Box Office Affect The Ballot Box?

Mo Rocca Wonders How Much Hollywood Celebrity Endorsements Can Help Candidates

(CBS)  These days, it's hard to tell where politics ends and show business begins ... at least in the opinion of our Contributor Mo Rocca:

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It's that time of the political calendar: Hollywood's biggest stars are beginning to endorse presidential candidates.

This week Oprah named Barack Obama her favorite candidate, and Barbra Streisand declared herself one of the "people … people who love Hillary…"

Not surprisingly most of Hollywood's celebrities are backing Democrats.

Obama's got two-thirds of Dreamworks, and at least two-elevenths of "Oceans Eleven." Hillary has Rob Reiner and Magic Johnson.

On the GOP side, Mike Huckabee has Chuck Norris in his corner. Melissa Gilbert is backing Rudy Giuliani. And the Osmonds are swooning for Mitt Romney.

[Generally, Republican celebrities prefer to actually run for office.]

Endorsements can bring press attention - how much depends on several factors: There's box office mojo ...and populist appeal.

The intensity of support matters, too: Chuck Norris could handle all of his opponents' celebrity endorsers single-handedly.

If the celebrities' characters did the endorsing, that might be more effective: Melissa Gilbert's "Half-Pint" from "Little House on the Prairie" backing Giuliani humanizes the former Mayor.

District Attorney Arthur Branch stumping for Fred Thompson might give that campaign a lift. Of course, this can cut both ways: Obama appreciates Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker's support though he probably wouldn't welcome an endorsement from Idi Amin.

Ultimately, the endorsements probably mean little at the ballot box. Remember 2004? Madonna for Wesley Clark, and the parade of celebs (plus Al Gore) for Howard Dean? Even someone with the cultural impact of Oprah - this woman gets people to READ BOOKS! - is still unlikely to change many minds on a decision so important.

Now, if she gave every caucus voter a Pontiac, that's a different story…

[yongamerica]

Oprah''s endorsement and active campaigning for Barak has cast that candidate in a negative light.

Its good to see someone embrace a political hopeful like she has, but when she starts using her vast televangelical powers to campaign for Barak, one must take a step back and see who else behind that curtain.

[lanefiller1]

Anyone interested in some telling Thompson video from his first week on the trail in SC and an accompanying column should try:
http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/05/fred_thompson_for_president_of_what_the_

[lanefiller1]

Anyone interested in a funny (but it really happened) column about what Huckabee is really like face-to-face should try:
http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/02/title_14

[missopine]

THE BEST OF MO ROCCA. . . THIS SUNDAY MORNING on CBS

I watched Mo Rocca''s political commentary this Sunday morning and held my breathe. I just knew he was going to drop the ball and turn left!
But no, he brought the ball to home plate for a full run of [American] political alliances across the board and across celebrities big and small.
That was great to watch. Fantastic! (I love the American Scene and feel that CBS Sunday Morning is an ideal forum to present modern-day Americana.) There were all kind of political alliances (across the board) with all kind of political assignations; there was not one word said about skin colors and races. (Now that''s American, new-age Americana!) It was just wonderful to watch,even thrilling! It was American -- the new possibilities -- it was American!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU -- can we have more?
--Margaret Opine
P.S.
There was also a news story on a young American blues band (The Jamz Band). More stories about parents and their young inspired children would be appreciated too. I feel excited about the possibilities and I just know that other viewers watch Sunday Morning for this excited,hopeful feeling too. THANK YOU ALL!