Analysis — Democrats love celebrities. But there is no certainty that star power will propel Vice President Kamala Harris to the presidency.
The party has long fielded actors, musical stars and athletes to energize its support base and attract swing vote support. Perhaps with less than two weeks until Election Day, Harris is performing this familiar play.
The Democratic candidate has already secured a much-needed endorsement from Taylor Swift, a global music megastar from Pennsylvania, and 15-time Grammy Award-winning rapper Eminem arrived in Detroit earlier this week. He campaigned with former President Barack Obama on the campaign trail and is aiming to galvanize the Michigan Democratic Party on this point. important battleground states.
Speaking of the 44th president, he campaigned alongside Harris on Thursday night in Georgia, a recent battleground state, for the first time since she became the party’s nominee, but polls show he’s back in the race. It is expected to be contested. The same can be said for all battleground states, according to forecasters such as Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales and Cook Political Report.
Former President Donald Trump, who is once again the Republican presidential nominee, said this about Obama during a Fox News radio appearance on Wednesday. “There’s good news about Obama: Nobody listens to him.”
The Harris campaign plans to have President Obama and his soon-to-be wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, on the campaign trail throughout the final days of the campaign. They are betting that the opposite is true for their party’s most popular figures.
“The Boss”
Obama wasn’t the only celebrity along with Harris at the star-studded Atlanta rally, which is trying to reignite the campaign momentum it had over the summer.
Rock superstar Bruce Springsteen, film director and New York Knicks superfan Spike Lee were also in attendance, as was entertainer Tyler Perry. The Harris campaign said Mr. Springsteen also plans to appear with Mr. Obama in Philadelphia on Monday.
“Hello, I’m Bruce Springsteen, and I’m here today to support U.S. presidential and vice presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Tim Walz,” the artist known as “The Boss” wrote on his hip. I said as I put down my guitar.
“Donald Trump is trying to become the tyrant of America. He doesn’t understand this country, its history, or what it means to be an American,” Springsteen added.
This is consistent with Harris’ new closing argument, which includes a new line: “The difference between us is that he has a list of enemies. He has a to-do list to address your concerns.”
“Agent Orange”
Lee, who was born in Atlanta, mocked President Trump’s skin color by calling him “Agent Orange” and urged his hometown to do its part to “stop him.” Democrats often express disgust when President Trump resorts to slander.
In his signature campaign look, with the sleeves of a blue shirt rolled around his forearms, President Obama pointed out that early voting had begun in Georgia and urged the crowd to take advantage of it. He also criticized President Trump, saying, “All he cares about is his ego, his money, his position.”
“Recently, some of the people who know Donald Trump best have said in no uncertain terms that he should not be president again.”Recently, President Donald Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly, a retired Marine general, said President Trump told his generals he wanted them to be like Hitler’s generals. “I want to explain that in politics, a good rule of thumb is not to say you want to be like Hitler.”
President Trump wrote to Kelly on X in a post on Thursday. John Kerry is a vile person, a bad general, and I stopped seeking his advice in the White House and told him to “move on!” ”
The Harris campaign has been pushing Kelly’s case as part of her closing argument, in which she and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley have called Trump a fascist. “Yes, I would. Yes, I would,” Harris said Wednesday night during a CNN town hall when asked if she agreed.
“Insurance policy”
Democratic strategists said the party’s focus on celebrities likely won’t sway undecided voters, but could help boost turnout among its base.
“We don’t know how much celebrity-driven events like last night will increase votes in the Democratic field in November, but they are a great way to generate energy, enthusiasm, and all-important social media clicks.” , Jim Manley (D-Nev.), a former senior aide to the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said in an email.
“What I’m more interested in is what kind of celebrities both candidates are using. Team Harris includes ‘The Boss’ and (allegedly) Beyoncé, and apparently “He has one half of the hip-hop duo Insane Clown Posse, but Trump has right-wing provocateurs like Tucker Carlson.” “In a reality-based world, this would be a huge blow to Team Harris, but Mr. Trump clearly thinks he can win even with these supporters.”
David Axelrod, President Obama’s former chief campaign strategist, said rallies like Harris’s in Atlanta are “useful training” for Democratic candidates.
“Well, look, I think at this point you’re trying to energize people who are going to come vote. And I think that was primarily the purpose of that rally. And the celebrities… “They’re good at attracting people and getting their attention. So we got the message out, get out there and vote,” he told CNN. “She needs insurance against the lack of a ‘blue wall,’ and I think Georgia is her best, best chance. I think we can win this race, and we have 15 electoral votes.” Even if we lose Michigan State, which has players, Georgia will have 16 players, so we can get back in the game.”
