Oprah Winfrey had a major influence on Obama becoming American president

Long before he announced himself a contender, Winfrey stated in 2006 that Obama was her favorite senator and that she hoped he would run for president. On September 8, 2007, when Obama launched his candidacy for President of the United States, Winfrey hosted a fundraiser for him at her Santa Barbara estate, raising several million dollars. She made her first campaign appearances for him in December 2007, bringing over 30,000 people, the highest attendance for any political event in 2007.

The endorsement of Oprah Winfrey made a significant influence. In the Democratic primary, Obama received 1,015,559 votes. It is commonly assumed that her backing was instrumental in his securing the Democratic nomination and ultimately the presidency. The then-Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, was so delighted by Winfrey's backing that he considered awarding her Obama's former Senate seat. Her support for Barack Obama was one of the most talked-about moments of the 2008 presidential campaign. She was dubbed the "Most Influential Woman in the World" as a result of it. Many media heavyweights have urged Oprah to run for President in 2020, citing her ground-breaking endorsement of Barack Obama in 2007. Influencing Obama to become president is considered one of the major achievements of Oprah Winfrey.