Television legend Oprah Winfrey returned to prime time on Wednesday in a surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention, calling on Americans to choose “optimism over cynicism” and “inclusion over retribution” as she endorsed the candidacy of Vice-President Kamala Harris, whose life story Winfrey deemed “the best of America”.

Winfrey, a billionaire media mogul who built her career in Chicago, had never before spoken at a national convention. Her speech was carefully kept under wraps by Democratic organisers, including a cloak-and-dagger act during rehearsals in which one of the most famous women in America crept into the United Centre wearing a hat, sunglasses and a mask.

When Winfrey said hello to Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, Pelosi had no idea who she was at first, according to Winfrey’s friend Gayle King, a CBS anchor.

The obvious excitement in the crowd when Winfrey emerged on Wednesday was a reminder of her power as a public speaker and a widely recognised icon of optimism, particularly among the female and Black voters that Harris is hoping to turn out in big numbers on Election Day.

Winfrey’s speech touched on school integration, the preservation of democracy, and civil rights icons including John Lewis. Dressed in a purple outfit, she appeared to direct her remarks towards the country’s political independents, a cohort to which she said she belonged.

“Decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024, and just plain common sense,” Winfrey said, before building to a climactic passage that evoked the energy of her daytime talk show, which ended in 2011.

“Let us choose truth, let us choose honour, and let us choose joy!” Winfrey shouted, stretching out the final word for several seconds. “Because that is the best of America.”

The fact that Winfrey appeared at all represented a feat by Harris’ campaign team.

Winfrey has often shied away from overt political activity, withholding the Oprah seal of approval for all but a few candidates.

And at a moment when Americans have lost trust in many institutions, Winfrey’s celebrity has the ability to transcend politics.

In 2007, though, Winfrey waded into presidential politics for the first time. She endorsed Barack Obama, a close friend and compatriot from Chicago’s power circles. Winfrey hosted fundraisers and barnstormed cities in Iowa to round up votes for Obama, who at the time seemed a long shot to win the nomination.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton’s campaign sought to capitaliwe on Winfrey’s popularity by lobbying her for a full-throated endorsement. It never came. Winfrey mostly stayed away from politics that year, although she did tell one morning show interviewer, “I’m with her.”

New York Times News Service