Oprah presidential buzz goes viral, but could she win in 2020?

It was a nine-minute speech at the Golden Globes Awards that has already been watched by more than 30 million people since Sunday night, and it has ignited speculation about a possible 2020 presidential run for American megastar and businesswoman Oprah Winfrey.

Ms Winfrey, an idolised TV icon with a global name recognition, electrified the room with her speech accepting the Cecil B DeMille lifetime achievement award. It was an embrace of feminism, the #MeToo movement, a cry against racial injustice and a promise of hope and “a new day”, all delivered with enough vigour and passion to start a buzz about a possible run against Donald Trump in 2020.

Hours later, the speculation only grew as Ms Winfrey’s long-time partner Stedman Graham told the LA Times that “it's up to the people. She would absolutely do it.” On Monday, the #Oprah2020 hashtag was already trending and CNN quoting two close friends of Ms Winfrey said she is “actively thinking” about running for president.

The self-made billionaire and businesswoman is a household name and widely revered across the United States. She is seen as a powerful African-American voice, and a champion for justice and equality, thus transcending the entertainment career as a host of The Oprah Winfrey Show until 2011.

But could she win? A poll conducted last March by Public Policy Polling showed her with 49/33 favourability rating and with a 47-40 in a hypothetical 2020 presidential contest against Mr Trump.

Over the years she has earned praise from Mr Trump himself. In 1999, he said she would be his first choice for a running mate:

In 2012, Mr Trump called her a winner: “Oprah will end up doing just fine with her network – she knows how to win”Political analyst and reporter April Ryan saw Oprah's core strength in connecting with average voter. “She is every person. She has been poor & now rich. She is also a self made Billionaire. She has a grasp of the issues as she used to cover local politics. She can articulate any issue and she has mass appeal beyond race & gender.”But many Trump supporters immediately attacked his potential rival, circulating photos of Ms. Winfrey with Harvey Weinstein, the movie producer who is accused by more than dozen women of sexual harassment and assault:Others advised caution. “Folks, Oprah was fabulous. A shot in the arm. An earnest appeal to our broader cultural conscience. But here's a shot of reality: Oprah won't save us. No one will. This ain't Hollywood. There is no storybook. Go win some Congressional races” tweeted journalist Tom Watson:Nobody in their right mind, not after 2016.