Oprah still embraces Obama

CHICAGO, April 9 (UPI) -- Oprah Winfrey's camp is denying reports the U.S. television superstar will not endorse President Obama's re-election campaign.

A spokeswoman for Winfrey told the New York Daily News she remained a stalwart backer of the first African-American president.

"Oprah's support of President Obama has been and remains unwavering since she initially endorsed his candidacy in 2007," Lisa Halliday told the newspaper. "Any reports that suggest otherwise are untrue."

The Daily News said Saturday the idea Winfrey had cooled to Obama originated with an entertainment Web site that said Winfrey was distancing herself from Obama because she did not want her fledgling Oprah Winfrey Network to experience any negative fallout from the potentially contentious 2012 election.

Winfrey's high-profile endorsement and support of Obama in the 2008 campaign was seen as a major contribution to the meteoric rise in his popularity among voters.