Oprah on the PR hunt?

Obama's campaign trail gets personality endorsement

By LIZ SMITH

Winfrey

Obama

O'Donnell

Colbert

SO, WHAT about Oprah on the campaign trail for Obama? Many believe she won't affect the vote, but is merely providing a PR bonanza. Others say she has over-reached and will find herself savaged and unprotected in the ugly land of politics -- casual, careless remarks flying all over YouTube and nightly pundits bloviating on her every move. I say Oprah really wants Obama to win, and she's putting her iconic charisma on the line for that goal. This woman will be fine. She knows how to handle herself. But... how often have we heard it said that Oprah is so powerful, so popular, that if she ran for President she might well win? Oprah's plunge into campaign madness might not help Barak Obama in the end, but perhaps it will serve Ms. Winfrey down the road, after her show finally ends. Because, folks -- Oprah will never retire. And I'm sure she feels she hasn't accomplished even half of what she can do in this world.

SAY WHAT you will about Rosie O'Donnell, she is truly generous and committed to her causes. Last week her Rosie's for All Kids Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary at NYC's Maravel Arts Center. Paul Simon performed. The gala raised over a million dollars. The more Rosie's critics pile on, and just outright lie about her, the more one wants to be on her side.

STEPHEN COLBERT hosts Michael J. Fox's annual "A Funny Groovy Thing Happened on the Way to the Cure" event to fight Parkinson's on Saturday at the Sheraton. Julianne Moore, Donna Karan, Lance Armstrong and others are expected to appear. Call 212-245-6570 for tix. The Woodstock-theme will be enlivened by John Mayer, Joan Osbourne, Levon Helm and Gavin DeGraw. ... Madonna will enliven the premiere of hubby Guy Ritchie's "Revolver" movie Sunday night at the Tribeca Grand Screening room. ... Barry Josephson, producer of the "Enchanted," has married Brooke Geiger who was the stand-in for Amy Adams, the star of "Enchanted." The two met on the set. ... Bestselling forensic author Patricia Cornwell telling the world she is now married to Dr. Staci Gruber of the Harvard Medical School. They were joined back in February 2005 in Massachusetts where same-sex wedlocks are legal. Patricia's latest fiction is "Book of the Dead." She says she'll now speak up publicly for gay marriage rights.