Running Obama fundraising event at the Apollo Theater on Thursday



"Oprah is a household personality. ... This adds juice, impetus, to his candidacy and credibility in an extraordinary way. And could the timing be any better? It's around the corner for Iowa and the other early states, where the momentum is moving in his direction. This is sort of like jet fuel to that momentum."



Robert Zimmerman



Great Neck

Democratic National Committeeman and a Hillary Clinton supporter



"Endorsements are critical both in terms of helping people focus on the candidate and developing media attention around the candidate. But ultimately the candidate has to close the deal, and the candidate has to earn the vote."


Legis. Judy Jacobs

(D-Woodbury)

Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature



"I don't know if the general public is swayed by who endorses whom. I know that I'm not. I make my vote on the person themselves and what they stand for."



Bob Vasta

46, of New Jersey

Runs toy stand at

Roosevelt Field Mall



"I think it's a good move on his part. He's the underdog. It definitely will help him with the women voters. Oprah is a big influence on the female population."



Star Welch

22, of Freeport

Makeup artist



"It'll help because it's Oprah. Oprah is just a powerful person. Anything Oprah says goes."




Joel Wettstein


62, of Franklin Square

Retired real estate financier



"She just has such a popular following and people who believe in her. I think it will help."




Stephanie Moreno

23, of Brooklyn

Works as a sales associate at a fashion boutique in Manhattan



"It will probably help. She's got so many fans that they'll do what she says to do."



OTHER CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS

BARACK OBAMA: Warren and Susan Buffett; George Clooney; Jamie Foxx; Bill Gates; Stephon Marbury; Chris Rock; Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith



HILLARY CLINTON: Jodie Foster; Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward; Ben Stiller; Tom Hanks; Tobey Maguire; Danny DeVito; Martha Stewart



JOHN EDWARDS: Mary Steenburgen; Susan Sarandon; Danny Glover; Jackson Browne; Bonnie Raitt



CHRIS DODD: Paul Simon



RUDY GIULIANI: Melissa Gilbert; Tony Sirico ("The Sopranos"); Vic Damone; Melania Knauss (Donald Trump's wife)



MIKE HUCKABEE: Chuck Norris