From Taylor Swift to George Clooney, stars are rushing to offer their support to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the US presidential elections scheduled for November 5. But according to experts, their ability to influence voters’ votes is still small compared to their ability to raise money.
It’s no secret: Kamala Harris loves Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the United States.
But Kamala’s “obsession” has grown rapidly since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in late July, said Elaine Goldsmith-Fine, a Hollywood producer who has raised money for the Democratic Party.
“The level of commitment is comparable to the level seen in Obama’s (former President Barack) first campaign,” she told AFP.
She said, “I don’t want to say that other presidential campaigns, especially Hillary Clinton’s campaign, haven’t caused real enthusiasm, but with this campaign we feel we can bring radical change to result
But how can we benefit from this trend of support from Hollywood stars?
“There is not much evidence to show that support for a candidate makes a difference,” said Mark Harvey, a professor at St. Mary’s University and the author of a book on the subject.
This expert confirms that some inappropriate messages from left-wing celebrities can discourage fans from voting.
Harvey explains that according to a soon-to-be-released study, a hypothetical call to vote for the Democratic Party by singer Taylor Swift would make voters “less likely to go to the polls ” compared to a neutral message.
The 34-year-old singer recently found a compromise on Instagram, saying that she would personally vote for Kamala Harris, while inviting her fans to make their own decisions.
“Celebrities usually have little influence on people’s vote, but they can play an essential role in raising money,” said Elaine Goldsmith-Fine.
– On the left –
Kamala Harris is expected to arrive in Los Angeles on Sunday to attend her first major fundraiser in the city since becoming the Democratic candidate for the White House, with Tim Walz running for vice- sit if she wins.
California is considered a source of funding for the Democrats, and Kamala Harris has deep roots in Hollywood, especially since she owns a house in the nearby Brentwood area.
The Vice President met her husband, Doug Emhoff, through producer and director Reggie Hudlin and his wife. Democracy is also very close to the head of Disney’s television branch and the next possible general manager of this group, Dana Welden.
Harris, a former California attorney and senator, has benefited from generous donations from Hollywood during her previous campaigns.
Many actors and stars support her such as Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep and Ben Stiller and they participated in a gathering organized by the presenter Oprah Winfrey.
And if actors such as Laura Dern, Danny DeVito and Bob Odenkirk made individual donations, most of the money will come from the “Hollywood industry,” especially studio heads, says Stephen Ross, a Hollywood historian and expert.
In June, at an event organized for Joe Biden, who was still a candidate, and attended by George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Jimmy Kimmel, $30 million was raised.
“Historically, Hollywood has been more supportive of the Democratic Party, and this election is no different,” said Elaine Goldsmith-Fine.
– ‘Strong Arguments’ –
But when it comes to telling fans how to vote, things get more complicated for celebrities.
“You can’t convince people to give up guns or change their minds about abortion,” said Mark Harvey, an expert on the issue.
Unless they are considered experts.
He explained, “If we think, for example, of Bono from the band U2, who is a strong advocate of AIDS research and reducing the debt burden of developing countries… he can present very strong academic and economic arguments, but at at the same time he uses music and his ability to evoke emotions to convince people.”
Mark Harvey believes that Taylor Swift’s impact would be much greater if she participated in a fundraising campaign or an election campaign, because “people will pay to see their beloved star doing what they love to do.” “
