Ohio Voice 
In an innovative digital rally hosted Thursday night, Winfrey facilitated a conversation with Oprah and kamala Harris in Michigan, intertwining campaign outreach with appearances from renowned celebrities. Harris, addressing a virtual audience based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, engaged in a discussion reminiscent of the iconic “Oprah Winfrey Show.” Topics of immigration, reproductive rights, and the economic strain on everyday citizens took center stage, as Harris deftly navigated the pressing concerns without creating controversial headlines.
Among the luminaries featured on screen was the esteemed Meryl Streep, whose inadvertent remark, “Hello, President Harris,” drew attention before she quickly corrected herself. With characteristic warmth, Winfrey greeted Harris with an embrace, swiftly delving into a pivotal question about the moment when President Joe Biden deferred to Harris. Winfrey observed a significant shift, stating it appeared as though a veil had lifted, and Harris had fully “stepped into your power.”
“Did you feel that?” Winfrey probed.
“I felt a profound sense of duty, to be candid,” Harris responded. “There is an enormous amount at stake.”
Winfrey facilitated emotional testimonies from attendees, including personal accounts of gun violence and the critical issue of abortion. One such testimony came from the grieving family of Amber Nicole Thurman, a woman who tragically died in Georgia due to preventable pregnancy complications. In response to Winfrey’s observation that some states permit abortion only in instances where the mother’s life is at risk, Harris pushed back.
“Does a woman need to be at death’s door before you offer her care?” Harris questioned. “Must a doctor or nurse wait until she might perish at any moment?”
The topic shifted to gun control, with Winfrey prompting a candid admission from Harris: she owns a firearm. Winfrey, surprised, remarked, “I didn’t know that.”
“If someone intrudes into my home, they will be met with force,” Harris said, drawing laughter from the audience.
Michigan’s Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, had earlier taken the stage, forecasting the significance of the state in the upcoming election. “This race is shaping up to be a close one,” Whitmer noted, “Michigan is always competitive.”
Jen O’Malley Dillon, Harris’s campaign chair, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting that polling shows a dead heat in crucial battleground states.
A-list celebrities also contributed their support during the rally. Actors such as Bryan Cranston, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jennifer Lopez, and Julia Roberts appeared in solidarity. Over 300,000 viewers tuned in via the campaign’s YouTube channel, further emphasizing the digital reach of the event. Rock shared that his support for Harris dates back two decades when she first ran for district attorney. “I’ve been writing checks for her for a long time,” Rock remarked. “I want to take my daughters to the White House and introduce them to this incredible Black woman leader. It’s time to move past the division and animosity — we must turn the page.”
Roberts, meanwhile, highlighted the global perception of America, advocating for a positive image restoration. “I travel abroad often, and I want to hear people say, ‘Oh, you’re American!’ with admiration, not skepticism,” she reflected.
The virtual gathering, titled “Unite for America,” was designed to unite grassroots organizations that coalesced online following Harris’s official entry into the race. Early supporters like “Win With Black Women” spurred other groups into action, including “Comics for Kamala,” “Cat Ladies for Kamala,” “Win With Black Men,” and even “White Dudes for Harris.”
Despite Harris’s burgeoning support, she has faced scrutiny from conservative circles and the political media for limiting unscripted public appearances and participating in few interviews. Following the event, the Trump campaign seized the opportunity to disparage Harris, characterizing her supporters as “Hollywood elites” like Winfrey and Jamie Lee Curtis. In a fundraising email, the campaign criticized Harris for leaning on a so-called “shadowy cabal of left-wing billionaires” and high-profile Democratic figures like President Obama and Hillary Clinton.
“But I don’t need any of these leftist zealots on my team, Patriot,” the email continued. “I only need YOU!”
Winfrey previously held a similar virtual event in October 2020 for Joe Biden as part of her “OWN Your Vote” initiative, where she emphasized the importance of civic engagement. She also made a surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last month.
Closing the rally, Winfrey issued a plea to “all decent individuals,” urging unity in a divided political climate.
“This moment is for those exhausted by the constant bickering, name-calling, and conspiracy theories,” Winfrey said. “You know we can do better. We deserve better. And you know this. I know you know this. We are better than this.”
