Oprah Winfrey 2020? The media magnate might be testing the waters
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Oprah Winfrey is hinting at a possible presidential run, making politicos wonder if she will throw her hat in the ring in 2020.

“Thank you for your VOTE of confidence!” she tweeted, as she shared an article about why she would make a good president. The article, titled “Democrats’ Best Hope for 2020: Oprah” could not have possibly been clearer about wanting her to run. Her tweet sure sounded like that of a willing, enthusiastic candidate.

Should Oprah choose to run for president, she will enjoy some of the same advantages that Donald Trump had in 2016. Both are multimillionaires with top-notch name recognition. Trump never had to spend time or money to introducing himself to voters; we already knew him from his business empire and television show.

Oprah’s brand is every bit as powerful as Trump’s, if not more so. Trump benefitted from free press coverage; Oprah has her own television network and magazine. Though they disagree on most major issues, their campaign structures might look remarkably similar.

If the Democrats learned anything from 2016, they’ll be reluctant to run a traditional politician against Trump in 2020. He beat out over 20 traditional politicians – both Republicans and Democrats – last year.

Oprah has been on the air for what seems like a lifetime, especially to young adults. The Oprah Winfrey Show began in 1986 and taped its final episode in 2011. It’s all but impossible to overstate the impact that Oprah has had on American media and culture. Her political influence, too, is not insubstantial. She endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary, which was instrumental in helping him with his party’s nomination over Hillary Clinton.

Oprah maintains that she will not run for president, but her actions speak louder than her words. This summer, she told the Hollywood Reporter “I will never run for public office.” However, her recent actions make that statement seem unlikely. Not only has she thanked the writer of what sure sounds like an early endorsement, but she tackled political issues in her very first episode as host of 60 Minutes. Oprah spoke with Trump supporters and opponents to get their takes on the man in the Oval Office. Would someone trying to get away from politics do that?

Though Oprah leans liberal on most issues, she is wealthy and famous because she appeals to people personally. This isn’t lost on the President. In 2015, Donald Trump told ABC that Oprah was his dream running mate. “I think we’d win easily, actually,” Trump said. “I like Oprah. I mean, is that supposed to be a bad thing? I don’t think so.”

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Source: Red Alert Politics