Oprah power for Obama

The South Carolina Gamecocks haven't filled Columbia's Colonial Center yet this season. But Illinois Sen. Barack Obama - with a lot of help from his friend Oprah Winfrey - evidently will fill it Sunday.

Though that expected 12:30 p.m. capacity crowd of 18,000 (all the tickets were gone by Monday) will get free admission, Ms. Winfrey's proven drawing power extends to selling high-priced tickets. For instance, 22 months ago, the queen of daytime TV talk shows quickly sold out the approximately 2,300 seats at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center at $125 a ticket for a "Live Your Best Life" presentation that included a workshop designed to "inspire and motivate."

Ms. Winfrey's aim in Columbia Sunday will be to inspire and motivate South Carolinians to vote for Sen. Obama in the Jan. 26 Democratic presidential primary. Why is he the first presidential candidate for whom she has ever campaigned? She told The New York Times earlier this year: "I believe in this person."

The Obama camp understandably believes that Ms. Winfrey's campaign help is a major coup. Sure, celebrity endorsements rarely decide elections. Yet they can persuade some fans of politically enthused celebrities to consider giving candidates they otherwise would have ignored a fair hearing.

And if you don't think Ms. Winfrey wields potentially formidable political influence, check out how many "Oprah Book Club" selections have made the best-seller lists - and how many people will show up at the Colonial Center Sunday.