Oprah hit the trail for Obama during the primary season.

(CNN) — Oprah Winfrey is ecstatic over Barack Obama’s apparent victory in this year’s Democratic presidential race.

"I'm euphoric, I've been doing the happy dance all day,” she said in a statement released Wednesday I'm so proud of Barack and Michelle and what this means for all of us, the new possibilities for our country.”

The talk show host, who campaigned for Obama in several key early primary states, added: “And if he wants me to, I'm ready to go door to door."

Oprah last campaigned for Obama in early December.

(CNN) — Talk-show host Oprah Winfrey is set to headline a Barack Obama event in Los Angeles Sunday, two days before Democrats in California and 21 other states head to the polls.

The event will mark Winfrey's return to the campaign trail two months after the media mogul stumped for the Illinois senator in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, drawing record-breaking crowds and heavy media coverage.

Obama's wife Michelle and Caroline Kennedy will also attend the event, though the Illinois senator himself is scheduled to be in Delaware that day.

– CNN's Chris Welch contributed to this report

Clinton and Bush are statistically tied as the nation's most admired man.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Looks like all of Bill Clinton's time on the campaign trail this year for his wife Hillary may be paying off in the polls for more than one member of the family.

Sitting presidents usually top Gallup's list of the country's most admired man, and this year is no exception: President Bush leads, as the choice of 10 percent of those polled. But in this survey, he's in a statistical tie with former President Bill Clinton, at 8 percent. In the last survey, there was an 8-point margin of separation, with Bush leading 13 to 5 percent, and a 17-point difference in a 2004 poll. (Full poll results [PDF])

Former Vice President Al Gore, who won several high-profile awards in 2007 for his work to raise awareness about climate change, also shot up in the poll — now in third place with 6 percent — 5 percentage points higher than last year.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama nudges out the Rev. Billy Graham and Nelson Mandela for fourth place with 5 percent. Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, and Rudy Giuliani also make the list — all at 1 percent.

Hillary Clinton tops Gallup's most admired woman list, with 18 percent. But popular talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who has campaigned for Obama, Clinton's chief rival, is statistically tied with the New York Democrat at 16 percent. Both have gained in this year's poll: Clinton was at 13 percent in 2006 while Winfrey was at 9 percent.

The poll surveyed 1,011 Americans December 14-16, and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Oprah and Obama were greeted by record crowds on the campaign trail last weekend.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Oprah Winfrey's recent campaign swing with Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama was greeted with wild cheers and record-breaking crowds.

But some of the talk show host's fans aren't happy she's become politically outspoken, and many are sounding off on Oprah's Web site.

"Oprah," says one, "count me as tuned out for now." Another writes, "It's a real turn off for a lot of your fans." And yet another says "She has crossed a line and lost my trust completely."

But, what's especially interesting about reading Oprah's Web site is why some of those fans seem to be upset: the way she stumped for Obama, they say, seemed to pit white against black.

"I've been inspired to believe that a new vision is possible for America,"
Oprah said while on the stump with Obama in South Carolina. "Dr. King dreamed the dream, we get to vote that dream into reality."

Back on Oprah's Web site, one commenter wrote, "Winfrey has artfully begun her stump speeches alongside Obama with a negative racial tone."

And another commenter wrote, "Don't pit blacks against whites."

Interviewed on ABC's Good Morning America Wednesday, Winfrey rejected the notion she is supporting Obama merely because he is black.

"I get a little..I guess the word is 'offended,'" Winfrey said. "To think that I would be supporting someone just because of their skin would mean we haven't moved far from Dr. King's speech in 1963, where he said we should be judged by the content of our character not the color of their skin."

In another interview, Winfrey told CNN that she weighed carefully whether she should get involved in politics, wondering whether she would "lose viewers as a result."

"I made the decision that I have the right to do it as an American citizen," she said.

Related video: Oprah hits 3 states for Obama

Related video: Oprah's S.C. Obama pitch

Related video: Obama: 'We're doing it'

Related video: Jeanne Moos: Obama-Oprah soul

– CNN's Carol Costello

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Now you can take the Best Political Team with you on your iPod.

In the latest Best Political Podcast, Bill Schneider reports on new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll numbers that show Mike Huckabee in a virtual tie with Rudy Giuliani, Candy Crowley takes a look back at the "Oprah-bama" barnstorm through three early primary states, and Ed Henry has a report on the White House's reaction to the CIA tapes controversy.

Plus, everybody has to start somewhere. Wolf Blitzer tells you what some of the presidential candidates said about their worst jobs.

Click here to subscribe to The Best Political Podcast

Watch Candy Crowley's report about Oprah Winfrey's first foray into politics.

(CNN) — Talk show host Oprah Winfrey ventured into presidential politics over the weekend. The media mogul made campaign stops in three key early primary states and rallied crowds on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama who is in a tight race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Watch Candy Crowley's report about Winfrey's 'Oprah-bama' tour.

Related video: Jeanne Moos on Obama-Oprah soul

Watch Suzanne Malveaux's report about "Oprahlooza."

(CNN) — In a close race for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sens. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and Hillary Clinton, D-New York, are both seeking the support of female voters.

Suzanne Malveaux reports from Columbia, South Carolina about talk show host Oprah Winfrey's possible influence on these key voters — who are also the core of the media mogul's loyal viewership.

Watch the entire 20 minute introduction by Winfrey to a crowd of 29,000 in South Carolina.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – The crowd traveled here from across South Carolina to see Oprah Winfrey speak, but the biggest applause line at Sunday's rally came straight from Barack Obama's stump speech: "The name George W. Bush will not be on the ballot" next year, he said to a huge roar from the audience.

"I'm sick of politics as usual," Winfrey told the crowd of 29,000 voters and 350 credentialed journalists at Williams-Brice Stadium, after an introduction from Obama's wife Michelle. "We need politicians who know how to tell the truth. But more importantly we need politicians who know how to be the truth."

Her speech, light on policy and heavy on the Illinois senator's message of change, was similar to the remarks she gave in Iowa on Saturday. But if the balmy weather and the football stadium weren't sign enough, it was clear from their speeches that they were in a different part of the country.

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WASHINGTON (CNN)–Look for more red-hot scrutiny of Republican Mike Huckabee this week, the underdog turned top dog in Iowa.

A Newsweek poll shows Huckabee now has a whopping 22 point lead over Mitt Romney in Iowa — other polls don't show as big a Huckabee lead, but with a little over three weeks to go until the lead-off contest, the former governor of Arkansas is now the one to beat.

Expect Huckabee to be a target when the GOP candidates square off in the Des Moines Register debate on Wednesday.

Romney, in particular, will be trying to regain his footing in Iowa, where he once enjoyed a comfortable lead.

Thursday, it's the Democrats' turn to debate in Des Moines — with the three-way slugfest between Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards taking center stage.

Clinton and Obama refocus on the Hawkeye state after dueling weekend events in South Carolina featuring superstar surrogates: Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.

But no one is bigger than Republican Ron Paul's new campaign vehicle: A blimp — floating up the Eastern seaboard this week — headed right for the first in the nation primary state of New Hampshire.

-CNN Anchor Wolf Blitzer

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (CNN)–Not being a meteorologist, I can't explain how it rains when the temperature outside is a mere 11 degrees (The Weather Channel says it feels like 2 degrees, to which I can attest).

Packed practically to the rafters, Oprah fans and Obama supporters braved the not un-daunting elements, and showed up by the thousands at the U.S. Cellular Center on Saturday night in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The crowd, a broad mix of ages, races and ethnicities, was equally rapt by both the candidate and the talk-show host and seemed ebullient even while waiting for the headliners - of course, just being inside on a night like tonight is cause enough for celebration.

The event, Sen. Obama and Ms. Winfrey's second of the day, touched on a broad array of themes including: education, housing foreclosures, health care, racial and religious divides in the U.S. and the "politics as usual" fatigue.

Ms. Winfrey strode the stage, urging the crowd on by repeating the mantra, "the moment is now" - the introduction of Obama culminated with Oprah saying simply, "He is the one."

As for the candidate himself, Senator Obama began by joking with the crowd saying "you know it's a good program when I am the third best speaker".

He also had the crowd laughing and cheering by referring to his distant relation to Vice President Dick Cheney. The Senator cracked, "everyone has a crazy uncle".

After being introduced by Michelle Obama, Winfrey took the stage to the strains of Aretha Franklin and immediately referenced the weather, saying that on the road between Des Moines and Cedar Rapids they "were slipping and sliding" and she assumed that no one would be at the event. Oprah said she'd "be home in my footsie pajamas" if it wasn't for Barack Obama.

–CNN Producer Carey Bodenheimer

Bill Clinton will be campaigning for his wife in South Carolina just a day before Obama has Oprah Winfrey there for a large event.

(CNN) — It will be the battle of the rock star surrogates this weekend, with a last minute trip by former President Bill Clinton scheduled for South Carolina as Oprah Winfrey campaigns with Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Clinton's appearance for his wife Senator Hillary Clinton was a surprise, added amid saturation media coverage of Obama's three-state swing.

The former President told reporters at a stop in New York City Friday the trip was a "coincidence", though he'll be in South Carolina the day before Obama and Winfrey stop in Columbia.

During a day of appearances in Charleston, Clinton will speak on health care disparity, attend a forum on the subject, visit patients and families at a Children's Hospital and stop at a downtown Charleston market.

The dueling trips come as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama compete for a bigger share of the critical African-American vote in South Carolina, where the former president remains a popular figure.

Hillary Clinton campaigns Saturday in Iowa, as Obama and Winfrey hold two rallies in Iowa.

–CNN Political Desk Managing Editor Steve Brusk

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) - Before the Oprah-bama fest began in Des Moines, her best-friend and talk show host Gayle King, attempted to quietly slip into the rally. She walked up to the set of bleachers behind the stage and asked some women if she could scoot in. Within seconds cameras were clicking and fans were yelling. King spent the speech on the first row of bleachers chatting up supporters, listening and and mingling with fans.

– CNN Senior Producer Sasha Johnson

Watch CNN's Candy Crowley report on the three state weekend trip for Obama and Winfrey.

(CNN)–Democrat Barack Obama is banking on some star power this weekend. Actually, make that "super-star" power. The Queen of Daytime TV herself..Oprah Winfrey..will appear with Illinois Senator Barack Obama in three key states over the weekend.

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) - According to the Barack Obama campaign, twenty-three thousand tickets were distributed for Saturday's event with Oprah Winfrey.

The first twelve-thousand tickets were handed out to precinct captains, volunteers, caucus training attendees and people who came into one of the 37 Obama offices around the state to ask for one. The other eleven-thousand tickets were distributed on-line.

– CNN Senior Producer Sasha Johnson

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Now the Best Political Team is portable.

In Friday's Best Political Podcast, journalist Ron Suskind speaks with CNN's Wolf Blitzer about the CIA terrorism interrogation tapes destroyed by the spy agency, Bill Schneider reports on the GOP's relationship with Latino voters, and Candy Crowley takes a look at what Oprah Winfrey may be able to do for Sen. Barack Obama. Plus, get a your weekly dose of campaign trail mix.

Click here to subscribe to The Best Political Podcast

Listen to Candy Crowley discuss the political impact of Oprah Winfrey.

(CNN) — The original 18,000-seat arena turned out not to be big enough. So, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign is now holding a South Carolina campaign event featuring media superstar Oprah Winfrey in an 80,000-seat football stadium. But, with all the interest in Oprah, could she overshadow the Democratic presidential hopeful she is trying to help?

In today's Race to '08 audio podcast, CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley talks with CNN Radio's John Lisk about Obama's upcoming campaign events featuring Winfrey.

Related: Oprah to hit campaign trail with Obama

Oprah's appearance could help raise Obama's profile in South Carolina.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – Citing "overwhelming excitement," Barack Obama's campaign in South Carolina is out of free tickets for this weekend's rally with Oprah Winfrey, a signal that Oprah's impact could be significant in this state where Obama is still trying to introduce himself to primary voters.

Though Oprah's appeal certainly transcends race and class, black women are proving to be a key subset of voters in South Carolina, and Oprah's presence on Sunday could help raise Obama's profile in a state where Sen. Hillary Clinton is still more well-known.

"What this does, is it takes somebody who ten months ago most people in South Carolina had no clue who he was, and with the media attention surrounding Oprah, it puts him front and center," said Winthrop University political scientist Scott Huffmon.

"Oprah is not going to change people's minds on her own, but Oprah makes Obama salient. So if he pulls off an upset in Iowa, suddenly he is the forefront of everyone's mind and he has the momentum. And he can use it to springboard him through in South Carolina. That's what it can do."

The Obama campaign wants this to be a huge event: The rally will take place at the Colonial Center, an arena here that seats 18,000 people. Oprah and/or Obama fans were camping out in sleeping bags outside Obama headquarters in Columbia on Saturday morning, waiting for tickets.

Assuming every ticket-holder shows up, there will be more people at the arena for a political rally than for an average University of South Carolina basketball game, which aren't usually sell-outs.

For those that didn't get tickets in time, the campaign says there is a waiting list. Obama and Oprah will also campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire this weekend.

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Oprah will officially hit the campaign trail for Obama.

(CNN) – Sen. Barack Obama dropped the hint last week, but Monday his presidential campaign made it official: talk show host Oprah Winfrey will join him on the campaign trail next month.

The campaign said Oprah will make four appearances with the Democratic presidential candidate in three key early states: Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

The stops will be the weekend of December 8th and 9th, in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Manchester and Columbia.

Winfrey has made no secret of her support for Obama, who lives in her hometown of Chicago. She officially endorsed the Illinois senator earlier this year and hosted a star-studded fundraiser for him in southern California in September, bringing big bucks and plenty of media exposure.

Her appearance comes as Obama fights with Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton for the critical women's vote. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll showed the two separated by just a point among women in Iowa.

– CNN Political Desk Managing Editor Steve Brusk

Sen. Obama spent some time at a New Hampshire food bank on the eve of Thanksgiving.

(CNN) — While volunteering at a New Hampshire food bank Wednesday, Sen. Barack Obama told reporters that Oprah Winfrey is a close friend and key supporter who would be able to help spread his message to voters not yet tuned into the presidential race.

“Obviously to the extent that she can highlight some of the themes of our campaign and reach some people who might not otherwise be thinking about politics that’s great,” Obama said. The Illinois Democratic presidential hopeful added, “She's a dear friend and I'm real appreciative that she's wiling to take time out of her busy schedule.”

Obama said he plans to spend Thanksgiving in Chicago, where he will play host to his wife’s family.

“Michelle has all of these wonderful uncles as well as her brother who are great storytellers and I spend the entire day just listening to other people instead of talking,” he joked. Obama was keen to stress the importance of giving back during the holiday period. “Thanksgiving is a time when we’re grateful for what we have but we also are thinking about those who don’t have,” he said.

Related video: Watch Sen. Obama in New Hampshire Wednesday

– CNN Contributor Jamie Gray

Clinton raised money for her campaign with Magic Johnson on Friday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton pursued votes Friday in the Los Angeles area's historical black heartland with basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson at her side. Less than a week ago, her rival Barack Obama banked $3 million at a fundraiser at Oprah Winfrey's seaside estate.

For the two leading Democratic presidential contenders, the dueling events just six days apart highlighted the stiff competition for support and dollars within one of the party's key voter groups — blacks.

Johnson, the former Los Angeles Lakers star whose sprawling business interests range from movie theaters to health clubs, also held a fundraiser for Clinton at his Beverly Hills home Friday night. It was expected to be considerably smaller than the lavish event staged by Winfrey for Obama, an Illinois senator, on Sept. 8.

Johnson's fundraiser was co-hosted by music industry heavyweights Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy and Clarence Avant, and scheduled guests included Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Guests at the
Obama event included Sidney Poitier, Forest Whitaker and Chris Rock.

The divided loyalties among blacks show "the community just isn't going to go lockstep behind any candidate, even a black one," said University of California, Los Angeles, political scientist Franklin D. Gilliam Jr.

When it comes to competing celebrity endorsements, "I don't know if anybody stands equal with Oprah," Gilliam said. But Clinton, a New York senator, is not conceding the black vote to Obama and "she can compete for it in a legitimate way."

On Thursday, the California Legislature's black caucus endorsed Obama — but one of its eight members is backing Clinton. And independent polls in California suggest the black vote is divided,largely between Clinton and Obama.

Obama, whose late father was Kenyan, gives blacks a chance to put one of their own in the White House for the first time. But Clinton benefits from the strong relationship her husband, former President Bill Clinton, maintained with blacks for years.

"People in the black community love Bill Clinton; she's seen as comfortable in the community," Gilliam said. And "there's concern about Obama being electable, period, because he's black."

The rivalry between Obama and Clinton also showcases the clout of black political influence and money.

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