Opinion: An Obama conundrum -- Oprah or vote?

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Oh, the problems of scheduling when you’re running for president and trying to be a legislator at the same time, as so many of the 2008 candidates are this time!

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, says he’s likely to schedule an important procedural vote Saturday morning. Maybe you can miss a vote here or there, although Barack Obama skipped that vote on Iranian terrorism to campaign and Hillary Clinton nailed him for it in a debate. And he had to admit it was a mistake just as he was criticizing the way she had voted.

But the plot thickens. This important Senate procedural vote concerns an energy bill that includes sharp increases in the production of ethanol and biodiesel fuels, which are sacred fluids in Iowa, which is the first state to caucus Jan. 3 and which Obama was scheduled to campaign in Saturday.

But not just campaign. Campaign at two major rallies with someone called Oprah Winfrey.

What to do -- campaign or vote?

Sens. Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, neither of whom is figuring significantly in the Iowa race, have canceled their plans for Iowa today and tomorrow to be available to vote. Clinton, also scheduled to work the Hawkeye State both days, has not yet announced her choice.

This is when having the title former senator helps John Edwards.

(UPDATE: The Senate vote was changed to today, so Obama should be able to make the Iowa Oprah events on time. BTW, they are to be televised on C-SPAN.)

--Andrew Malcolm