(Taylor Media Services) Can campaigning by television talk-show diva Oprah Winfrey help Illinois Senator Barack Obama with the Democratic Party’s nomination for president? That was the question coming from a wide range of media pundits last week shortly after it was announced that starting in December Winfrey will join Obama on the campaign trail in the key early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

             Oprah Winfrey

Historically, celebrity endorsements and campaigning have not been particularly effective in persuading voters to support a particular candidate. But the Obama camp is hoping that Winfrey’s huge popularity among both Blacks and whites will reverse the historic trend. Currently, New York Senator Hillary Clinton is holding double digit leads over Obama in most national pools. The exception is the Iowa caucuses where Obama holds a slight lead over Clinton and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards.

            Obama’s strongest base of support appears to be under 30, educated white females. Clinton, meanwhile, continues to outpoll Obama among Blacks and she is especially strong among Black women. The Obama strategy is to secure a win in Iowa and with Winfrey’s help make strong showings in New Hampshire and South Carolina and thus convince hesitant voters that he can indeed become the first African American to secure the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.