A long text and a photo of her hugging her cat Benjamin Button were the perfect combination for a message that ended up rounding off what had been a good night for the Vice President of the United States.I will cast my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz (…) because she fights for those rights and causes that I believe need a warrior to defend them“Childless Cat Lady,” she said in the Instagram post. Signing off as “Childless Cat Lady” was the icing on the cake. With that expression, the superstar rejected comments made in 2021 by JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, about how supposedly childless women do not have the same interest in the future of the country.
For many years Taylor Swift chose not to get involved in politics. In 2018, she broke that tradition by voicing her support for Tennessee Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen. In an Instagram story, the singer included a link to www.vote.orgwhich registered more than 250,000 new voters in three days, but did not achieve its ultimate goal. Two years later, it supported Joe Biden in the presidential elections, where it managed to mobilize the vote of the young population.
“I believe she is a steady and talented leader and that we can accomplish much more in this country if we are guided by calm and not chaos. I was very encouraged and impressed by her choice of running mate Tim Walz, who has been championing LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right over her own body for decades.”
With the current candidates tied in the polls, his supporters were eagerly awaiting his takeover, especially after he was seen warmly hugging Brittany Mahomes, wife of American football player Patrick Mahomes and a fan of Donald Trump.
The extent of its influence
Her long-awaited announcement in this race also had immediate effects. Following her endorsement of Harris, voter registration increased by between 400% and 500%, which translates to between 9,000 and 10,000 people per hour, according to TargetSmart, a company that analyzes voter data. Experts point out that Taylor Swift’s endorsement has the potential to mobilize, above all, the younger public, whom the artist has encouraged to register to vote in order to express themselves in the elections of early November.
“Considering the attractive demographic represented by Gen Z, no other endorsement will be as popular as Taylor Swift’s. The artist is arguably the most influential celebrity in the world, and her following is not only huge, but also very loyal. The trust her fans have in her will translate into additional votes for Harris.“, Nevena Trajkov, president of the Department of Political Science at Jacksonville University (Florida), tells El Comercio.
She added that the singer’s support will influence younger millennials and Generation Z, especially women. It is therefore not surprising that Swift’s support for Harris did not sit well with Trump, who said that the artist will probably “pay a price in the market” for it.
Mark Clague, a music professor at the University of Michigan, wrote in an article for The Conversation that music has quickly become a weapon in the campaigns’ battle to win over younger voters, a demographic that has been more competitive than in previous cycles.In this sense, Swift’s endorsement of Harris after the debate, broadcast to her 283 million followers, takes on added significance. The megastar could attract more young people to Harris’s camp, especially since her roots in country music mean that ‘Swifties’ span the ideological spectrum.“, he said.
The New York Times notes that young voters are often much less likely to vote than older voters. “In a close election, if Swift’s endorsement were to convince even a small portion of potential voters aligned with Democrats to register and cast their ballots, it could make a difference,” the paper notes.
This is a race where every vote counts, especially in the swing states that will define the election. One of them is Pennsylvania, birthplace of Taylor Swift and where Democrats still have a lot of work to do.
“When you do the math, Pennsylvania is the state that will likely decide the election.“We are doing this for the first time,” Trajkov says. He explains that about a year ago, conservative activist Scott Presler moved to Pennsylvania with the sole purpose of registering new Republican voters. This is a key task, as newly registered voters have a turnout rate of more than 80% in the elections that immediately follow their registration.
“Over the past year, Presler has had great success registering thousands of new Republicans in the state, particularly in central and western Pennsylvania, where the state’s key counties are located. If Pennsylvania goes for Trump, it will be because of Presler. Swift’s endorsement of Harris and call for Pennsylvanians to register to vote will somewhat undermine Presler’s success. The question is: will it be enough?”, says the expert.
At the pace of the campaigns
As campaigns ramp up their strategies, the entertainment industry has largely rallied around Harris, who scored a victory after receiving permission from Beyoncé to use “Freedom” at her rallies and events. Artists such as Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder and Selena are also backing her.
Clague pointed out in his article that the soundtracks of both candidates claim very different ideological territories.Harris prefers youthful hits, with a high proportion of artists of color and women. Her selection sends a message. Playing Chappel Roan’s ‘Femininomenon’, for example, signals an inclusive and gender-affirming message, while suggesting to fans who know the song that it’s time for a woman to be in charge.”.
In the case of the Republican candidate, the expert points out that his campaign usually includes classic hits, such as James Brown’s 1966 single “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” and rock and patriotic anthems such as Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass” and Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”
Trump has fewer stars on his side, and when it comes to music, he has faced bans from stars including ABBA, Adele and Celine Dion from using their music in his campaign. Taylor Swift herself denied supporting Trump in August after the former president posted an AI-edited image of her on social media asking people to vote for him in the November election.
The megastar alluded to that fake image in her post supporting Harris.It made me come to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my real plans for this election as a voter. The easiest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.“, he said.
