Ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, global music icon Taylor Swift’s political endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris has caused a ripple effect. Swift, with her massive global fan base, publicly backed Harris and her running mate Tim Walz, urging her followers to vote for them. However, this endorsement has led to mixed reactions among the public, as revealed by recent polling data.
A YouGov poll suggests that Swift’s endorsement may have repelled some voters. The poll showed that while 8% of respondents said they were “somewhat” or “much more likely” to vote Democrat because of Swift’s support, 20% stated they were now “somewhat” or “much less likely” to back Harris. However, the majority of respondents, 66%, claimed Swift’s endorsement did not influence their voting intentions.
Swift made her endorsement via an Instagram post, which received over 10 million likes. In her post, she described Harris as “steady-handed” and a “gifted leader”, and expressed confidence in Harris’s ability to champion causes important to her.
In response to Swift’s endorsement, the Trump campaign reacted swiftly. Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the campaign, criticized Swift’s backing of Harris, saying, “This is further evidence that the Democrat Party, unfortunately, is the party of the wealthy elite.”
Swift’s endorsement came after the first presidential debate between Harris and former President Donald Trump. In the endorsement, Swift also addressed misinformation, specifically false reports claiming she had backed Trump.
Despite some negative reactions, Swift’s endorsement has also led to a significant uptick in voter registration. Within 24 hours of her post, more than 400,000 people accessed voter registration information via the link she shared, underscoring the considerable influence of Swift’s words, particularly among young voters, a key demographic for both campaigns.
Swift’s influence extends beyond just politics. Her close friendship with Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, has drawn attention. Despite Mahomes having liked some of Trump’s Instagram posts, the differing political views of the two women have not impacted their friendship.
Although Swift’s endorsement may not have swayed as many voters as expected, Harris expressed gratitude for Swift’s support during a radio interview, saying, “I am very honored to have their support,” referring to Swift and other celebrities who have endorsed her campaign.
As the 2024 election unfolds, the influence of celebrity endorsements continues to be a focal point of discussion. With recent polls indicating a slight lead for Harris over Trump, the impact of Swift’s support on the final election outcome is yet to be determined.