When President Barack Obama runs for reelection in 2012, he will reportedly be doing so without the public support of Oprah Winfrey.

Popeater.com is reporting that while Winfrey is still a huge fan of the president, next election season she will be showing her support more privately. It’s also said that Oprah still has  admiration for Obama, but sources say that her newly mum stance on all things political comes down to the bottom line of business and ratings.

Back in 2008, after Oprah's publicized political rally for Obama’s presidential campaign she saw her daily talk-show ratings drop. In addition, her favorable ratings went from 74 to 66 percent and her unfavorable ratings jumped from 17 to 26 percent, according to a Gallup poll.

As her 25-year talk show comes to a close, Winfrey is now focusing all her energies on her signature OWN network, which has had difficulty finding an audience since its January 2011 launch. This go around with more at stake, TV insiders believe Oprah doesn’t want to do anything to “alienate” potential viewers. Sources say that “making sure her OWN network thrives is now her priority.”

But, as generous as Winfrey has been to her staff, talk-show audiences and charities over the years, it’s probably safe to assume that Obama will still have Oprah’s financial support in his 2012 reelection bid.

(Photo: Kristian Dowling/Picturegroup)