Oprah Winfey Issues Statement On Dr. Oz's PA Senate Candidacy

PENNSYLVANIA — It wasn't exactly an endorsement. But Oprah Winfrey has issued her first public statement regarding the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate candidacy of Dr. Mehmet Oz, who rose to fame on Winfrey's talk show.

A lengthy profile of Oz in New York magazine included a prepared statement from Winfrey issued through a spokesperson. The story stated that Oz told a meeting of Republican activists in Pittsburgh that he believed he could count on Winfrey's support in the general election after first adopting a far-right strategy to appeal to voters in the Republican primary.

But Winfrey's statement regarding Oz was tepid at best.

"One of the great things about our democracy is that every citizen can decide to run for public office. Mehmet Oz has made that decision," she said. "And now it’s up to the residents of Pennsylvania to decide who will represent them.”

Oz announced last month that he is entering the race to succeed Sen. Pat Toomey, who is retiring at the end of next year. Oz declared his candidacy despite ties to Pennsylvania that are tenuous at best. He attended medical school in Philadelphia and met his wife in the state, but actually resides in New Jersey.

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