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Posted: December 12, 2007 10:51 AM
Bill Clinton More Likely to Influence Voters Than Oprah, Poll Shows
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Sen. Hillary Clinton spent Tuesday in San Francisco, where she attended a “Conversation with Warren Buffet.” The well-known billionaire is not formally backing her, however, and noted on CNBC, “I told both [Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.] before they ran, before they declared, that I would support them if they ran for president, and then they both ran. So I will support both of them throughout the primaries and everything, until a candidate is selected, and I certainly hope it’s one of the two of them.”

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts Union (IATSE) announced its endorsement of Clinton on Tuesday. Union president Thomas Short remarked, “Hillary Clinton’s ability to create real change for America’s working families is exactly what this country needs … She has the strength and experience to provide quality, affordable health care for every American and rebuild our middle class.” IATSE represents approximately 100,000 members.

While Clinton can boast the greatest number of union endorsements to date, other presidential candidates have also received noteworthy support from labor. The Iowa leadership of the United Auto Workers is backing Obama, while the International Association of Fire Fighters is lined up behind Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn.

One fan she does not have to share with other front-runners is husband and former president Bill Clinton. With TV icon Oprah Winfrey campaigning for Obama this past weekend in South Carolina, analysts have wondered which celebrity packs more political power. A CBS News/New York Times poll shows that Bill Clinton is much more effective in the area of political influence than Winfrey.

“Forty-four percent of Democratic voters say Mr. Clinton’s involvement will make them more likely to support her. In fact, about as many of Mrs. Clinton’s backers say they are supporting her because of her husband as say they are supporting her because of her own experience,” the New York Times reported. “The poll found that just 1 percent said they might be swayed by the involvement of Oprah Winfrey.”

On Wednesday, Clinton plans to be back in Washington with no public campaign events. On Thursday, she is scheduled to participate in the Des Moines Register Democratic Presidential Debate, followed by a rally in Shenandoah, Iowa.