As the 2024 campaign heads into its final week, Democrats are leveraging their star power advantage by calling on a diverse range of celebrities to endorse Kamala Harris. The Democrats have a long history of utilizing celebrity endorsements to energize audiences and boost voter turnout, a tactic that has become even more prominent during Donald Trump’s presidency.
Leading up to the election, Harris has received support from music legends like Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and Beyoncé, as well as other prominent figures such as Barack Obama, Spike Lee, and Samuel L. Jackson. Her running mate, Tim Walz, has also benefited from celebrity endorsements, with singer-songwriter James Taylor performing at events alongside him.
In addition to performances at events, Harris has also received public support from high-profile celebrities like Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin after a comedian made derogatory remarks about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally. The campaign has organized a series of concerts called “When We Vote We Win” to encourage supporters to vote early in key battleground states.
On the Republican side, Trump has enjoyed support from celebrities like Kid Rock, Waka Flocka Flame, and Hulk Hogan, but lacks the same level of star-studded events as Harris. The use of celebrities in political campaigns can invigorate crowds and generate excitement, but can sometimes overshadow issues with a candidate’s message or base support, as was seen in Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign.
Ultimately, the impact of celebrity endorsements on voter turnout and election outcomes remains to be seen as the highly anticipated 2024 election draws near.
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