As the 2024 campaign heads into its final week, Democrat Kamala Harris is leveraging star power from celebrities like Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, and BeyoncĂ© to invigorate audiences and encourage voter turnout. The Democratic party has traditionally enjoyed a celebrity advantage, which has only grown during Trump’s presidency as many celebrities spoke out against him. Harris has recently been joined by Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, and Maggie Rogers at campaign events, drawing diverse crowds and energizing supporters. The campaign is also receiving public support from stars like Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Ricky Martin after controversial comments made at a Trump rally.
Harris’ campaign series, “When We Vote We Win,” includes upcoming events with performers like Mumford & Sons, Los Tigres del Norte, and Maná aimed at driving voter turnout in key battlegrounds like Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada. In contrast, Trump’s celebrity support mainly comes from figures like Lee Greenwood and sports stars, lacking the star-studded events of Harris’ campaign. The celebrity endorsements and performances have energized Democrats, but there is a risk of these events overshadowing underlying issues or voter turnout, as seen in Hillary Clinton’s unsuccessful 2016 campaign that featured concerts by Lady Gaga, Jon Bon Jovi, Jay Z, and BeyoncĂ©.
Despite the excitement generated by these events, the key will be whether the enthusiasm translates into voting outcomes, as was exemplified by Clinton’s disappointing losses in battleground states in 2016. The final week of the 2024 campaign is sure to be filled with high-profile celebrity performances, but the true test will be at the ballot box.
Source
Photo credit abcnews.go.com