The 2018 midterms were less than a week away and the liberal media were already looking forward to the 2020 Presidential election and dreaming about the candidates they would back against President Trump. During Wednesday’s NBC Nightly News, they were fantasizing about Oprah Winfrey going toe-to-toe Trump and touting her efforts to get Democrats elected in 2018.
Anchor Lester Holt began the segment by boasting about “the Oprah factor” taking hold in the Georgia gubernatorial race. “Hitting the trail trying to elect this country's first African-American woman governor. It's got a lot of people asking is Oprah also reconsidering a potential run for president,” he wondered. “Apparently, those very close to her are keeping up the pressure.”
“[O]ff the sidelines and entering the 2018 fray,” touted NBC White House correspondent Kristen Welker at the start of her report. “The queen of talk now poised to lend her voice and star power to Stacy Abrams, the Georgia Democrat running to become the country's first female African-American governor.”
Welker followed up by gushing about Oprah’s past electoral efforts for Democratic candidates:
WELKER: The media mogul has largely stayed out of politics, making a brief but big splash in 2007 with her endorsement candidate Barack Obama.
WINFREY: I believe the now is the time for somebody like Barack Obama.
WELKER: Also backing Hillary Clinton in 2016…
“[B]ut now, Oprah is generating the buzz of a potential presidential run,” Welker continued, citing Winfrey’s speech at the Golden Globes and calling it a “barnburner”.
Despite how “Winfrey was quick to dismiss speculation about whether she’d challenge President Trump in 2020,” Welker seemed almost optimistic the legendary TV personality could be convinced to launch a campaign. She regaled viewers with a story about how CBS This Morning co-host was pushing her friend to run:
Winfrey telling The New York Times her best friend Gayle King is urging her to do it. Winfrey saying she told King, “you of all people are supposed to care about my life.” King replying, “the country is bigger than your life.”
This wasn’t the first time the liberal media has been infatuated with the possibility of backing THE Oprah Winfrey in 2020 against the President. This year alone has seen several occasions. Even as early as January. And before Wednesday night, they talked about it back in July. It’s an obsession for them.
The transcript below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
October 31, 2018
7:04 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: From that, let's talk about the Oprah factor and her surprise announcement of her own last-minute campaign push. Hitting the trail trying to elect this country's first African-American woman governor. It's got a lot of people asking is Oprah also reconsidering a potential run for president? Apparently, those very close to her are keeping up the pressure. With more, here is NBC's Kristen Welker.
[Cuts to video]
KRISTEN WELKER: Tonight, Oprah, off the sidelines and entering the 2018 fray.
OPRAH WINFREY: Vote!
WELKER: The queen of talk now poised to lend her voice and star power to Stacy Abrams, the Georgia Democrat running to become the country's first female African-American governor. Abram is locked in a tight race with Republican Brian Kemp. The media mogul has largely stayed out of politics, making a brief but big splash in 2007 with her endorsement candidate Barack Obama.
WINFREY: I believe the now is the time for somebody like Barack Obama.
WELKER: Also backing Hillary Clinton in 2016, but now Oprah is generating the buzz of a potential presidential run after this barnburner of a speech at the Golden Globes.
WINFREY: That a new day is on the horizon!
WELKER: Winfrey was quick to dismiss speculation about whether she’d challenge President Trump in 2020, telling British Vogue, “I would not be able to do it. It's not a clean business. It would kill me.” But in an article out today, Winfrey telling The New York Times her best friend Gayle King is urging her to do it. Winfrey saying she told King, “you of all people are supposed to care about my life.” King replying, “the country is bigger than your life.”
[Cuts back to live]
Oprah is not the only high profile name campaigning in that race. President Trump and former President Obama will also stump in Georgia. Lester?
HOLT: Kristen Welker, thanks.
