Is Taylor Swift in her Kamala era? DNC Rumors and Endorsement Impact

Although the Harris campaign is turning to memes and social media culture to appeal to Gen Z voters, it has been careful not to rely too much on star power. As Hollywood rallies behind the vice president, she seems aware of the potentially negative impact of leaning too far into the world of celebrity and the elitism that comes with it, according to Bruce Pinkleton, dean of Washington State University’s college of communication.

“It seems to me that her campaign wants to avoid a string of high-profile celebrity endorsements. Obviously, there was some involvement, but that left-wing elite celebrity feeling is potentially harmful,” he told Business Insider, noting that his opinion was not based. on specific research. Independent and moderate voters may resent high-profile celebrities trying to dictate their behavior, he said.

Swift, however, is an exception.

For starters, it has a demonstrated ability to mobilize a significant number of voters. While she once prided herself on her nonpartisan nature, Swift waltzed into the political arena in 2018 when she endorsed two Democratic Senate candidates. Her social media post announcing the endorsement went viral and generated a surge in voter turnout. In the 36 hours after he declared his support on Instagram, an impressive 2,1444 people registered to vote in Tennessee.

In 2020, Swift criticized Trump and endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket, tagging her announcement with an image of herself holding a plate full of campaign-themed cookies. Although she has remained silent this election cycle, Democrats are already speculating about what a Swift endorsement could mean for Harris.

Tony Goldwyn, one of the DNC hosts, said it could be “significant” in such a close election. Some aren’t even waiting for a potential announcement to start organizing, as a “Swifties for Kamala” group already boasts more than 60,000 members and is holding a fundraising appeal on August 27. Many followers rejoiced that Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ colleague, is a self-identified fan.

There’s evidence that celebrity endorsements are meaningful when they appear genuine, but they run the risk of going too far, the Hollywood Reporter reported. Mark Harvey, a professor at Saint Mary’s University, told the media that Harris’ campaign is embracing the “Charli XCX strategy” of allowing celebrities to come out with independent endorsements rather than engineering partnerships. Her team hired a social impact firm to help celebrities figure out how to be helpful and tactful with their support. Neither the Harris campaign nor representatives for Taylor Swift responded to Business Insider’s request for comment.

Pinkleton said Swift has hit the “sweet spot” in her ability to truly connect with a wide range of Americans.

“It’s hard to think of anyone else who’s in the same position — maybe Beyonce — but there are very few people who seem to get the kind of attention that she does,” he said. “My guess is that, especially given the ubiquitous nature of social media and the like, she would have a very large, ready and willing audience, and a lot of people of voting age who would be interested in supporting her recommendation.” .

Swift’s stamp of approval for Harris could generate new buzz at a time when the campaign needs to keep up its post-convention energy. She could help strengthen Harris’ connection with younger voters, which stands in stark contrast to Biden’s inability to capture the affections of Gen Z.

The big question is whether Swift’s support would translate into voting behavior, Pinkleton said. Still, if the conditions are right and Swift mobilizes voters in swing states, she could have an impact on the outcome of a race with razor-thin margins.

“A positive attitude, good vibes, that kind of thing is great,” he said. “But if it doesn’t translate into voting behavior, it doesn’t do a political candidate any good.”