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Oprah 2020: Odds for a President Winfrey

Don Aguero

by Don Aguero in Entertainment

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:38 AM PST

Oprah receives the Presidential Medal
Oprah receives the Presidential Medal. Photo credit: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson CC License

The moment Oprah Winfrey stepped off the stage at the Golden Globes on Sunday, cries of  “Oprah 2020” and “President Winfrey” echoed throughout the Twitter-verse. The billionaire talk-show host has long been among bookmaker’s celebrity favorites for 2020, but her rousing speech on Sunday launched her into the stratosphere.

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Op-dds ranging from the Washington Post to the New York Times to TIME Magazine have pushed back against the idea of an Oprah presidency, but bettors have responded very differently. According to Ladbrokes, she now sits at 6/1 odds to become the Democratic nominee, making her an equal favorite alongside Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris.

When it comes to the General Election, Oprah is at 10/1 odds to become president, second only to Donald Trump (9/4). Is that realistic?

Barack Obama gave us the Affordable Care Act; Oprah gave us Dr. Oz. That seems like a bit of a downgrade for the Democratic Party. Also, running a political amateur against Donald Trump probably isn’t the best way to highlight his inexperience and ineptitude.

But who am I to say? If the people want a President Winfrey then that’s exactly what they’ll get.

Odds to Become the Democratic Nominee in 2020
Ladbrokes: Odds to Become the Democratic Nominee in 2020

 

Odds to Win the General Election in 2020
Labrokes: Odds to Win the General Election in 2020

Oprah for President: Betting Advice

Odds Oprah is the Democratic nominee in 2020: 6/1

Oprah joins the likes of Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris as the favorites to become the Democratic nominee in 2020. The three women are level at 6/1 odds, with Bernie Sanders close behind at 7/1 and Joe Biden placed slightly lower at 10/1.

Just over a week ago, Oprah was at a long 20/1, meaning that bettors were giving her less than a 5% chance of winning the nomination. After her acceptance speech at the Globers, her estimated chances of winning the nomination have increased threefold. Harris and Warren, on the other hand, have held steady at 6/1.

If you’re inclined to pick Winfrey, you should absolutely wait a beat before putting money down. The rapid spike in the odds was spurred by hype and fleeting excitement, and after the news cycle moves on, we’ll see a cooling off. Even if the excitement continues, it’s hard to picture her odds improving from 6/1 anytime soon.

Odds Oprah wins the 2020 General Election: 10/1

When it comes to the General election, Oprah is at 10/1 odds. Interestingly, Harris and Warren are slightly lower at 12/1. The bookmakers believe that Harris, Warren, and Winfrey are neck-and-neck when it comes to the Democratic nomination, but Winfrey is more likely to defeat a Republican nominee. Oprah is better at connecting with Middle America than Elizabeth Warren and certainly has better name recognition than Kamala Harris, so maybe they’re onto something.

It still seems absurd that Oprah is the favorite to win the Democratic nomination and behind only Donald Trump to win the general. But then again, it’s absurd that Trump, a president whose approval rating has failed to break the high 30s, remains the favorite. A Winfrey presidency is hardly unimaginable in this day and age, but I would again wait for all the hype to simmer before putting money down.

Odds to win the 2020 General Election: Celebrity Edition

  • Mark Zuckerberg: 33/1
  • Michelle Obama: 33/1
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: 50/1
  • Kanye West: 100/1
  • Chelsea Clinton: 200/1
  • Jon Stewart: 200/1

 

Donald Trump opened the door for political rookies to try their luck at presidential politics. If a reality TV star with no political experience and an extremely limited understanding of politics can fumble his way into the Oval Office, then anyone can, right?

Mark Zuckerberg has been toying with the idea of entering politics for some time. Last year, he clicked into campaign mode and traveled across the country on a whistle-stop tour, meeting many small-town, regular human beings along the way. He was pictured eating food, holding conversations, and shaking hands — proving beyond all doubt that he isn’t an android incapable of feeling.

With Barack Obama already having served two terms, some are hoping for a third Obama term in the form of a Michelle Obama presidency. While the former First Lady has repeatedly rejected the idea, the door is still open for her to run.

There was a time when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was the celebrity frontrunner for 2020. In recent months, he’s somewhat faded into the background. Like Baywatch, it was a fun but ultimately forgettable affair.

It’s interesting to note that every celebrity hopeful is linked to the Democratic Party. Unless Donald Trump still counts as a politically inexperienced celebrity, the Republican Party frontrunners for 2020 are all career politicians.

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