As Democrats nationwide encourage Oprah Winfrey to seek the presidency in 2020, those closest to the media mogul are sending mixed messages about her political intentions.
Her best friend, CBS News host Gayle King, said Tuesday that Winfrey is 害羞草研究所渋ntrigued害羞草研究所� by the idea of a White House bid.
害羞草研究所淪he loves this country and would like to be of service in some way, but I don害羞草研究所檛 think she害羞草研究所檚 actively considering it at this time,害羞草研究所� King said, noting that she spoke to Winfrey at length the night before. 害羞草研究所淚 also know that after years of watching the Oprah show, you always have the right to change your mind.害羞草研究所�
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On Monday, Winfrey害羞草研究所檚 longtime partner, Stedman Graham, told the Los Angeles Times that 害羞草研究所渋t害羞草研究所檚 up to the people害羞草研究所� whether she will be president, adding, 害羞草研究所淪he would absolutely do it.害羞草研究所�
The presidential buzz follows Winfrey害羞草研究所檚 impassioned call for 害羞草研究所渁 brighter morning even in our darkest nights害羞草研究所� at the Golden Globes on Sunday night in a speech that left some viewers contemplating the idea of the Democratic Party embracing a celebrity candidate of its own to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020. Trump, of course, was little more than a businessman-turned-reality-television-star before his extraordinary political rise.
Trump, who has lauded Winfrey as worthy of the vice presidency, dismissed her Tuesday as a threat, albeit cordially.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l beat Oprah. Oprah would be a lot of fun. I know her very well,害羞草研究所� Trump said at the White House as he met with lawmakers to discuss immigration. 害羞草研究所淚 like Oprah. I don害羞草研究所檛 think she害羞草研究所檚 going to run.害羞草研究所�
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., noted that Winfrey, like Trump, lacks any kind of governing experience.
害羞草研究所淚 think one of the arguments for Oprah is 45,害羞草研究所� Pelosi said, referring to Trump in shorthand for the 45th president. 害羞草研究所淚 think one of the arguments against Oprah is 45.害羞草研究所�
Even so, for Democrats in early voting states, and perhaps for a public that largely disapproves of Trump害羞草研究所檚 job performance, the notion of a popular media figure as a presidential candidate is not as strange as it once seemed.
害羞草研究所淟ook, it害羞草研究所檚 ridiculous 害羞草研究所� and I get that,害羞草研究所� said Brad Anderson, Barack Obama害羞草研究所檚 2012 Iowa campaign director, who supports the idea of Winfrey running. 害羞草研究所淎t the same time, politics is ridiculous right now.害羞草研究所�
Winfrey害羞草研究所檚 speech as she accepted the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award touched on her humble upbringing and childhood wonder in civil rights heroes.
But it was her exhortation of the legions of women who have called out sexual harassers 害羞草研究所� and her dream of a day 害羞草研究所渨hen nobody has to say 害羞草研究所榤e too害羞草研究所� again害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� that got some influential political operatives thinking Winfrey might be just what the Democrats need. Her appeal extended well beyond her celebrity, some said, citing her compassion, kindness and devotion to helping others as a badly needed change after Trump.
Even Trump害羞草研究所檚 daughter Ivanka endorsed Oprah害羞草研究所檚 message, if not a political future, in a tweet Monday. 害羞草研究所淛ust saw @Oprah害羞草研究所檚 empowering and inspiring speech at last night害羞草研究所檚 #GoldenGlobes. Let害羞草研究所檚 all come together, women & men, & say #TIMESUP! #UNITED.害羞草研究所�
Trump害羞草研究所檚 job approval rating sat at just 32 per cent in December, according to an Associated Press-NORC poll. And though polls show his approval up slightly since, Trump is the least popular first-year president on record. He has also been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct, though he has vehemently denied the allegations.
Winfrey, in September and October, publicly dismissed the notion of seeking the nation害羞草研究所檚 highest office, though she noted that Trump害羞草研究所檚 victory made her rethink the requirements of the office.
The 64-year-old media mogul has become a cultural phenomenon over the past 30-plus years, born into a poor home in Mississippi but breaking through as a television news and talk show personality in the 1980s. Over 30 years, she became the face of television talk shows, starred and produced feature films, and began her own network.
Thomas Beaumont And Steve Peoples, The Associated Press
