‘Oprahpalooza’ comes to South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Oprah Winfrey has told thousands of people at Williams-Brice Stadium to reject Barack Obama’s detractors and help him “seize the opportunity” in his bid for the White House.

Obama’s campaign says nearly 30,000 people attended yesterday’s event at the stadium in Columbia. It had the feel of a rock concert, with bands playing for early arrivals and campaign supporters yelling “fire it up” to the crowd.

A new poll for McClatchy newspapers and MSNBC shows Hillary Clinton and Obama in a virtual tie in South Carolina. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards is a distant third.