Kamala Harris Taps A-List Celebrities to Energize Voters

Vice President Kamala Harris is turning to high-profile celebrities in a strategic move to reignite the enthusiasm that marked her early presidential campaign. As the race heats up, Harris is leveraging the star power of influential figures like Oprah Winfrey, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish to connect with voters and drive engagement in key battleground states.

Harnessing the Power of Celebrity Endorsements

Oprah Winfrey Joins Harris for Live-Streamed Event

Oprah Winfrey, a longtime supporter of Harris, will join the vice president on Thursday for a live-streamed event in the crucial battleground of Michigan. Winfrey's endorsement and participation are seen as a strategic move to energize Democratic voters and encourage early voter turnout. "What is essential to me is getting people motivated to vote – and that's my intention in hosting this event," Winfrey said in a statement. "My goal is to get people excited about the privilege and power of the vote."

Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish Lend Their Voices

The Harris campaign has also secured the endorsements of pop icons Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish. Swift's public support for Harris came just a week before Eilish's video statement, in which she urged voters to support the vice president and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. "We are voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, because they are fighting to protect our reproductive freedom, our planet, and our democracy," Eilish said.

Harnessing the Star Power of the Entertainment Industry

Celebrity culture has been a constant presence in Harris's campaign since the beginning. From singer-songwriter Charli XCX's viral "brat" reference to the star-studded Chicago convention, the vice president has leveraged the influence of high-profile figures to connect with voters. These endorsements have become increasingly important as the shine of Harris's candidacy has begun to fade, with the campaign facing challenges similar to those that plagued President Biden.

Addressing Concerns and Maintaining Momentum

The Harris campaign has dismissed the idea that the vice president needs to rely on celebrity endorsements, instead emphasizing their importance as trusted messengers. "The events, such as the primetime livestream event with Oprah, also are high visibility opportunities to draw eyeballs even beyond the states where they're occurring," said Harris campaign spokeswoman Lauren Hitt.However, the Trump campaign has already declared Harris's political honeymoon over, arguing that the public is "waking up to the fact that she is a dangerous, liberal, and failed vice president." Despite these criticisms, Harris has maintained and, in some cases, built on her lead in post-debate polling, according to Democratic strategist Garry South.

Reaching Voters in the Digital Age

The Harris-Winfrey event is seen as a strategic move to reach a growing segment of the electorate – digital media consumers. According to a recent NBC poll, 40% of the electorate describe themselves as primarily digital media consumers. By leveraging the social media accounts of both Winfrey and the Harris campaign, the vice president's conversation will be able to reach millions of Americans who otherwise may be disinclined to follow traditional media coverage."The polling also shows these are exactly the voters both campaigns need to be focused on persuading," said Colin Seeberger, a senior communications adviser at the Center for American Progress.

Navigating Criticism and Maintaining Momentum

The Harris campaign's embrace of celebrity endorsements has also drawn criticism from Republicans, who have accused the vice president of cozying up to the elite. The event with Winfrey follows a high-profile fundraiser in New York, where actor Matt Damon and Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda hosted a dinner with tickets costing $25,000 per person.Despite these criticisms, Harris continues to maintain her lead in national polls and in several swing states. As the race enters its final stretch, the vice president's strategy of leveraging celebrity influence to energize and engage voters will be closely watched by both parties.