by John McCormick, updated
DES MOINES – Oprah Winfrey said this afternoon that she realizes even she can’t just recommend a man for president the way she has with books to make them instant best-sellers.
“I am not here to tell you what to think. I am here to ask you to think,” she said. “I want you to think seriously about a man who knows who we are and he knows who we can be. I’m not here for partisan beliefs. Over the years, I’ve voted for as many Republicans as I have Democrats. So this is not about partisanship to me. This is very, very personal.”
Amid an audience that Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign said numbered more than 18,000, Winfrey made her debut on the presidential campaign trail. She said does not want to speculate what influence she might have.
“So much has been said about what my jumping into this arena does or does not bring to the table of politics,” she said. “I really don’t know. I’m going to leave that all up to the pundits.”
But Winfrey left little doubt that she does want to influence voters.
“Despite all the talk, speculation and the hype, I understand the difference between a book club and free refrigerators,” she said. “I understand the difference between that and this critical moment in our nation’s history.”
Winfrey said she and those in the audience were here because they care for their nation.
“And so, I bathed. Yes I did. And I got dressed to come out here for I suspect the same reason you did, because I care about this country,” she said. “You have to care about this country to come out in this kind weather: 12 degrees, freezing rain and snow. You love America. I can see you do.”
Winfrey and Obama were joined by the senator’s wife, Michelle, who introduced Winfrey, who then introduced the candidate.
Obama’s campaign says more than 150 reporters, photographers and bloggers were credentialed to cover the event here, and at least another 100 are signed up for one this evening in eastern Iowa.
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There are at least eight satellite trucks parked outside Hy-Vee Hall, a building named after a local grocery store chain. Obama’s campaign says nearly 30 television cameras will be here to record the event.
The Des Moines joint appearance will be followed by one this evening at U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. Then, on Sunday, the trio is expected to travel to South Carolina and New Hampshire.
Hy-Vee Hall has capacity for about 18,000 as it is configured today, Obama’s campaign said. The Cedar Rapids venue, meanwhile, can hold about 10,000 and is expected to be at or near capacity.
After running out of the 18,000 tickets originally available, the campaign moved the first Sunday event to the University of South Carolina’s 80,000-seat football stadium.
The New Hampshire event will be at Verizon Wireless Arena, a 10,000-seat venue run by non-union labor. A potential picket there was averted after Obama agreed to make a pro-union statement during the event.