Pop icon’s support energizes young voters, highlighting celebrity influence in politics. Swift’s Instagram message reaches millions, potentially reshaping 2024 presidential race dynamics.
The Unexpected Endorsement
Taylor Swift, a global music icon with a massive fanbase, publicly supported Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday evening, right after Harris’s debate with former President Donald Trump. This Taylor Swift endorsement greatly boost Kamala Harris for president in 2024.
Swift’s endorsement, moments after the Philadelphia debate ended, gives Harris a powerful celebrity ally and a significant boost to her campaign, particularly among younger voters she’s been eager to reach. It also sheds light on Taylor Swift’s political views.
Swift’s Instagram Announcement
“I watched tonight’s debate like many of you,” Swift shared on Instagram with her 283 million followers as part of a Taylor Swift Instagram post today. “In the 2024 Presidential Election, I’ll vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. I’m supporting @kamalaharris because she champions the rights and causes I believe need a strong advocate.” This Taylor Swift announcement is major Taylor Swift news and current news.
She signed off as “Childless Cat Lady,” poking fun at comments made by Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, about women without children. Her post included a photo of her cuddling Benjamin Button, Taylor Swift’s cat.
Swift’s Political Evolution
Democrats had been eagerly awaiting Swift’s endorsement. The singer previously regretted not speaking out more against Trump during his 2016 campaign. Since then, she’s become more politically vocal, addressing issues like abortion rights and women’s rights. However, the timing of Tuesday’s endorsement was unexpected, as Swift had endorsed Joe Biden on October 7, 2020, closer to the election date. This is different from her Taylor Swift Biden endorsement timing.
Swift performing on her Reputation Stadium Tour in May 2018
Photo credit: UltimateWarrior13, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Power of Swift’s Influence
While the full impact of Swift’s endorsement is hard to measure, her ability to mobilize voters is well-documented, showing her political influence. In 2023, a brief Instagram post from Swift encouraging her then 272 million followers to vote, with a link to Vote.org, led to 35,252 new voter registrations that day – a significant increase, especially for a non-election year. This demonstrates Swift’s voter mobilization power and social media influence.
On Tuesday, Swift again included a link to Vote.gov in her Instagram story as part of her political activism.
Addressing AI Concerns
In her Harris endorsement, Swift also mentioned her concerns about artificial intelligence. She referenced AI-generated endorsements falsely suggesting she supported Trump, which the former president had shared on social media. Swift emphasized worries that without speaking out, people might not know her true stance, underscoring the dangers of AI misinformation.
“AI really scared me, especially how it can spread fake news,” Swift said in her debate response, showing political transparency. “I realized I need to be clear about my voting plans. The best way to fight lies is with the truth.”
Trump has called Swift “liberal” but “pretty,” and praised her friend Brittany Mahomes, wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Some Swift fans wanted her to support Harris publicly, especially after it seemed Mahomes liked one of Trump’s social media posts.
Swift’s Cultural Impact
Swift, a big star in country and pop music for nearly 20 years, is one of the few celebrities who can grab attention in today’s busy media world. Her relationship with Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ star tight end, has caught the eye of both football and pop culture fans. She’s also wrapping up a huge world tour that has packed stadiums everywhere, despite a recent Taylor Swift concert canceled due to illness.
Republican Response
Karoline Leavitt, speaking for the Trump campaign response, brushed off the endorsement, saying it just shows “the Democrat party is for rich elites.” This Republican criticism is unsurprising.
In 2020, when Swift backed Biden and Harris, many conservatives got upset and told her to keep politics out of her music. Her Biden-Harris 2020 support drew ire.
Four years later, as Swift got more involved in politics, Democrats wondered if and when she’d support Harris. Last month, some fans thought she was hinting at an endorsement when she posted a photo of a backup dancer who looked a bit like the vice president.
Harris’s Campaign Strategy
Harris has been using pop music in her campaign. Her rallies feel like concerts, with hip-hop stars like Megan Thee Stallion performing and DJs getting crowds dancing before Harris comes on stage to Beyoncé’s “Freedom.” (Many Democrats had hoped Beyoncé would perform at their national convention in Chicago, but that was just a rumor.)
Biden’s rallies, on the other hand, were small and not very exciting. They usually got most lively when a high school drum line played.
The Impact of Celebrity Endorsements
Swift’s endorsement is key for Harris, who’s been trying to connect with young voters. It also shows the political impact of celebrities, especially those like Swift who appeal to a wide range of people.
The singer’s political voice has grown stronger since 2016 when she regretted not speaking out more against Trump. Now, she’s tackling issues like voting rights and reproductive health head-on.
While it’s hard to say exactly how much Swift’s celebrity support will help Harris, her influence is clear. In 2023, a simple Instagram post from Swift urging her followers to vote led to over 35,000 new voter registrations in just one day.
Looking Ahead to November
As the election gets closer, both campaigns will likely keep trying to get celebrity endorsements. But few stars have the reach and appeal of Taylor Swift, making her support particularly valuable for Harris and the Democratic candidate.
Recent polls indicate Ms. Harris is gaining more support from young voters than Mr. Biden did, playing a key role in her recent poll surge that has put her on par with Mr. Trump. Ms. Swift’s endorsement reflects this growing appeal.
Swift’s Praise for Harris’s Running Mate
Ms. Swift praised Ms. Harris’s choice of Gov. Tim Walz as running mate, noting his long-standing support for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and women’s bodily autonomy. The Swifties for the Kamala movement is gaining steam.
Following the endorsement, Mr. Walz appeared on MSNBC, where Rachel Maddow read Ms. Swift’s full statement.
“I’m deeply grateful to Taylor Swift,” Mr. Walz responded, touching his chest. “As a fellow cat owner, I feel a connection.”
Swift’s History of Political Engagement
Ms. Swift has consistently encouraged civic engagement. In 2016, she shared a photo of herself waiting to vote, which fans interpreted as a subtle nod to Hillary Clinton.
It wasn’t until 2018 that Ms. Swift officially entered politics, backing Democrat Phil Bredesen over Republican Marsha Blackburn in a Tennessee Senate race. (Nashville, where Swift has a home, is the heart of country music.)
Despite Swift’s support, Blackburn won by a wide margin in the heavily Republican state.
Swift’s Reflections on Past Political Involvement
In a 2019 Vogue interview, Ms. Swift explained her hesitation to support Mrs. Clinton in 2016 openly. She worried Mr. Trump might use her celebrity status against them both. Swift also feared that criticism aimed at her might unfairly impact Clinton.
“Before that election, people called me ‘calculated,’ ‘manipulative,’ ‘fake,’ ‘a snake,’ ‘a liar,'” Swift said. “These were the exact insults thrown at Hillary. I wondered if my endorsement would help or hurt.”
The Future of Celebrity Political Influence
Swift’s political journey shows how celebrities can impact elections. Her 2023 Instagram post urging followers to vote led to over 35,000 new voter registrations in just one day.
As the election approaches, both sides will likely seek more celebrity endorsements. However, few stars match Swift’s wide-ranging appeal, making her support particularly valuable for Harris and the Democrats.
Swift’s growing political voice since 2016 demonstrates her commitment to issues like voting rights and reproductive freedom. While it’s hard to measure the exact impact of her endorsement, Swift’s influence is undeniable.
The Harris campaign hopes Swift’s support will help energize young voters, a crucial demographic. It also highlights the increasing role of pop culture in political campaigns, with Harris’s rallies often feeling more like concerts than traditional political events.
The Swift Effect on Election 2024
As November draws near, political analysts and fans alike will closely watch the impact of Swift’s endorsement on voter turnout and support for Harris. Taylor Swift’s latest news is sure to be a major topic in the top stories and daily news today as the campaign boost from the endorsement is assessed. Swift’s support bolsters Harris’s Democratic policies as the Kamala 2024 movement gains momentum.
For those wondering “who Taylor Swift is,” “how old is Kamala Harris,” or “does Kamala Harris have children,” this endorsement provides an opportunity for voter research into the candidate and her celebrity supporters. The Taylor Swift Capital One announcement and Taylor Swift Time magazine purchase may have to take a back seat to this major Taylor Swift political news for now.
Source:
Nicholas Nehamas, Theodore Schleifer, and Nick Corasaniti (Septermber 11, 2024. Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/10/us/taylor-swift-endorses-kamala-harris.html. Accessed September 11, 2024
Header: Official headshot of United States Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA).
Photo credit: Office of Senator Kamala Harris, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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