Stars such as Taylor Swift and George Clooney have jumped into the fray to support Democrat Kamala Harris in her campaign for the White House, but celebrities are more effective at raising funds than in influencing voters, according to analysts.
Harris enjoys broad support in Los Angeles, and “Kamalamania” has exploded in the entertainment capital since she replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, according to Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, a Hollywood producer and well-known fundraiser.
“The enthusiasm is reminiscent of Obama’s first campaign,” he told AFP . “I’m not saying other presidential campaigns, particularly Hillary Clinton’s, didn’t cause a lot of enthusiasm, but this one feels transformative, like Obama’s first campaign was.”
But how to channel that celebrity magic is a delicate question. It can have minimal impact, or even backfire .
“There’s not a lot of evidence to suggest that they make a difference,” said Mark Harvey, an associate professor at Saint Mary’s University and author of a book on the topic.
Posts from liberal-leaning idols may actually make their followers less inclined to vote , he added.
TAYLOR SWIFT JUST ENDORSED KAMALA HARRIS!!!! pic.twitter.com/Zu205Q6SYR
— swiftie wins (@swifferwins) September 11, 2024
A forthcoming academic study found that a hypothetical pro-Democratic Taylor Swift post would be less likely to sway her undecided fans to vote than a neutral one , Harvey said.
In a recent Instagram post, Swift struck a balance. She announced that she will vote for Harris, but also called on her followers to make their own decisions and posted a link to the voter registration form.
“Celebrities don’t usually have a significant impact on changing voting intention, but they can be very important in fundraising, and should probably be used more to boost voter registration,” Goldsmith-Vein said.
Corporate Hollywood
Harris will be in Los Angeles on Sunday for her first major fundraising event.
George Clooney when asked about his thoughts on Taylor Swift endorsing Kamala Harris:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 19, 2024
“It was beautiful. What a beautiful thing to do. And, you know, she’s a real phenomenon right now and it’s exciting to see all these young people really engaged in sort of the national… pic.twitter.com/J68tQFojuz
California has traditionally been a goldmine for Democrats, and Harris has deep roots in Hollywood .
Still a homeowner in the coastal city, Harris met her husband Doug Emhoff , an entertainment lawyer, through director and producer Reggie Hudlin and his wife, and is friends with Disney Entertainment executive Dana Walden.
He had support and donations from Hollywood in his campaigns for the California Attorney General’s Office, the United States Senate, and in his failed bid for the presidential nomination in 2019 .
Things are no different this time. Sheryl Lee Ralph, star of “Abbott Elementary,” will hold a fundraiser for Harris in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Jennifer Lopez was present at the program
Jennifer Lopez endorses Kamala Harris for President at the Unite for America event hosted by Oprah Winfrey. pic.twitter.com/SRWEqDUhag
— Jennifer Lopez Updates (@JLopezUpdate) September 20, 2024
Last week, Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep and Ben Stiller participated remotely in a virtual gala hosted by Oprah Winfrey.
Federal donation records show that actors including Laura Dern, Danny DeVito and Bob Odenkirk have supported her financially since she launched her campaign.
But “the biggest amount of money is coming from corporate Hollywood,” including studio heads and streaming companies, said Steven J. Ross , author of “Hollywood, Left and Right.”
They have traditionally donated equally to Democrats and Republicans, “a bet on both, just in case,” he said.
This is how the meeting with Oprah went
Kamala Harris: “If somebody breaks into my house, they're getting shot. Probably should not have said that.” pic.twitter.com/hlpGKUZAik
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 20, 2024
Still, a pro-Biden event in June featuring George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Jimmy Kimmel raised a record $30 million.
“Historically, Hollywood has been closer to the Democratic Party, and it’s no different in this election,” Goldsmith-Vein said.
“Emotional tools”
Celebrities can be more effective when it comes to raising public awareness on non-divisive issues, especially if they are seen as knowledgeable, Harvey explained.
“You’re not going to convince people to give up their guns or change their minds on abortion,” he added. “But you think of Bono from U2 as a very effective advocate for AIDS research, or debt relief for developing countries. He’s able to make academic and economic arguments, while using music and his emotional tools to convince people.”
Would Swift then be more useful outside of Instagram, supporting Harris with a couple of songs at a rally or fundraiser?
“I think so. People are willing to pay to see their favorite characters doing what they like them to do,” Harvey said.
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