Opinion: The daytime drama builds

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As if we needed further evidence of the intensifying competition between the top contenders in the Democratic presidential race, there’s this: Following Tuesday’s scheduling of Hillary Clinton on ‘The ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’ in early September, it was announced today that Barack Obama will appear a few weeks later on ‘The Tyra Banks Show.’

Clinton gets the nod in this battle of daytime programs --- DeGeneres runs ahead of Banks in the ratings. And though we haven’t researched this thoroughly, we would bet that DeGeneres has a somewhat higher percentage of viewers who are actually old enough to vote.

Neither show, of course, comes close in the ratings to the Queen Bee of daytime: Oprah. But with Ms. Winfrey preparing to host a much-ballyhooed fundraiser for Obama at her home in the Santa Barbara area Sept. 8, can a drop-by on her set by the candidate be far behind?

The Clinton camp, which rightfully prides itself on anticipating all contingencies, presumably is preparing for a counter-appearance with Dr. Phil.

-- Don Frederick