This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7134895.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Oprah campaigns for Obama in Iowa | Oprah campaigns for Obama in Iowa |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| US chat show host Oprah Winfrey has appeared at a campaign rally in Iowa for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. | US chat show host Oprah Winfrey has appeared at a campaign rally in Iowa for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. |
| Over 18,000 people attended the event in the state capital, Des Moines. | Over 18,000 people attended the event in the state capital, Des Moines. |
| On 3 January, Iowa will hold the first caucus in the 2008 US presidential election, when activists will choose a candidate for their party's nomination. | On 3 January, Iowa will hold the first caucus in the 2008 US presidential election, when activists will choose a candidate for their party's nomination. |
| Mr Obama's rival - Hillary Clinton - has also been campaigning in the state, accompanied by her mother and daughter. | Mr Obama's rival - Hillary Clinton - has also been campaigning in the state, accompanied by her mother and daughter. |
| 'Compelled to speak' | 'Compelled to speak' |
| The Oprah-Obama rally drew the biggest crowd of any campaign event in Iowa so far this year. | The Oprah-Obama rally drew the biggest crowd of any campaign event in Iowa so far this year. |
| JOIN OUR VOTER PANEL We want to hear views from Iowa, New Hampshire and all the states taking part in 'Super Duper Tuesday' in 2008. This is your chance to write for the BBC News website on the election. Find out more hereHow the panel looked in 2004 | JOIN OUR VOTER PANEL We want to hear views from Iowa, New Hampshire and all the states taking part in 'Super Duper Tuesday' in 2008. This is your chance to write for the BBC News website on the election. Find out more hereHow the panel looked in 2004 |
| "For the very first time in my life I feel compelled to stand up and speak out for the man who I believe has a new vision for America," Ms Winfrey told the crowd. | "For the very first time in my life I feel compelled to stand up and speak out for the man who I believe has a new vision for America," Ms Winfrey told the crowd. |
| Ms Winfrey defended Mr Obama against charges that he lacks experience, saying "the amount of time you spend in Washington means nothing unless you are accountable for the judgment you made". | Ms Winfrey defended Mr Obama against charges that he lacks experience, saying "the amount of time you spend in Washington means nothing unless you are accountable for the judgment you made". |
| And she praised Mr Obama for "[standing] with clarity and conviction against this war in Iraq". | And she praised Mr Obama for "[standing] with clarity and conviction against this war in Iraq". |
| Iowans who had signed up to volunteer at least four hours of their time to the Obama campaign were given priority seats for the event. | Iowans who had signed up to volunteer at least four hours of their time to the Obama campaign were given priority seats for the event. |
| Dozens of campaign workers were on hand to sign up fresh volunteers for the senator's electoral operation. | Dozens of campaign workers were on hand to sign up fresh volunteers for the senator's electoral operation. |
| Ms Winfrey announced her endorsement of Mr Obama's candidacy in May, and hosted a fundraising event in September which raised $3 million (£1.5 million) for his campaign. | Ms Winfrey announced her endorsement of Mr Obama's candidacy in May, and hosted a fundraising event in September which raised $3 million (£1.5 million) for his campaign. |
| Key state | Key state |
| The race to win the Iowa Democratic caucus is very tight, with most polls showing Mr Obama, Mrs Clinton and another candidate - former Senator John Edwards - neck and neck. | |
| Ms Winfrey (R) raised $3m for Mr Obama in September | Ms Winfrey (R) raised $3m for Mr Obama in September |
| Because it is the first state in the country to hold a caucus, presidential candidates are always keen to prove their electability by winning in Iowa. | Because it is the first state in the country to hold a caucus, presidential candidates are always keen to prove their electability by winning in Iowa. |
| Mrs Clinton is also campaigning hard in the state, and has appeared at an event with her mother Dorothy Rodham and her daughter Chelsea, vowing to bring "change across the generations". | Mrs Clinton is also campaigning hard in the state, and has appeared at an event with her mother Dorothy Rodham and her daughter Chelsea, vowing to bring "change across the generations". |
| In response to the Oprah-Obama rally, a Clinton staffer said "Senator Clinton is a big fan of Oprah's, and she thinks it is great for candidates to have surrogates campaign on their behalf". | In response to the Oprah-Obama rally, a Clinton staffer said "Senator Clinton is a big fan of Oprah's, and she thinks it is great for candidates to have surrogates campaign on their behalf". |
| Former President Bill Clinton has been supporting his wife's campaign, by appearing at events in another early primary state, South Carolina, while Hillary campaigns in Iowa. | Former President Bill Clinton has been supporting his wife's campaign, by appearing at events in another early primary state, South Carolina, while Hillary campaigns in Iowa. |
| Ms Winfrey is scheduled to attend a series of Obama campaign events in New Hampshire and South Carolina over the next few days. | Ms Winfrey is scheduled to attend a series of Obama campaign events in New Hampshire and South Carolina over the next few days. |