The Errant Æsthete

Excellent coverage coming out of the media on the impact of Oprah campaigning for Barack Obama. The Wall Street Journal warns not to underestimate the power of Ms. Winfrey:

“Oprah is the Swiss Army knife of political validators, a spectacularly accomplished black woman who is admired by Americans across every demographic, and would thus be a boon to any candidate. But her particular potency for Sen. Obama in this contest is not her race or gender or even the sum of her many parts, but what she is perceived to be lacking–a political agenda.”

While The NY Times feels Oprah’s arrival on the political trail promises to be a glitzy, high-energy political moment. “It will test whether Ms. Winfrey’s life philosophy — be true to yourself! be grateful every day! transform your life! help others! stay positive! — translates to the political arena. Does her formula work beyond the Oprah bubble? Can she translate her powers of suggestion — for a book, a hairstyle, an attitude toward life — into votes? “She’s pitching Obama as part of her self-improvement campaign, saying, essentially, that he will improve your life and improve the nation.”