Kamala Harris with artists Lizzo and Eminem, Donald Trump with billionaire Elon Musk: in the last days of the American presidential campaign, celebrity appearances are increasing at meetings.
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While the impact of such support remains undetermined, the expected vote gap is so small that every boost is welcome for the candidates.
Rapper Lizzo, preceding Kamala Harris on Saturday at a campaign event in Michigan, asked the audience: “Is America ready for its first female president?”
Photo AFP
“It’s not too early!” she replied herself, in reference to her hit song About Damn Time.
This is one appearance among others, in the final days of the campaign, which are making headlines in the press and on which campaign teams are counting to motivate voters in key states to vote.
But, according to experts, the influence of these celebrities remains minimal on voting intentions and only a small part of the American electorate is still undecided.
With less than two weeks before the election, the “real objective” of each of the candidates must be to “ensure that their public and their voters move”, explains to AFP Megan Duncan, professor of communications at the University of Virginia Tech.
Lose Yourself
And for the researcher, these appearances will multiply as the election approaches in order to exploit a local “sense of identity” with “more targeted” appearances in certain cities.
In Michigan, it was Eminem who introduced former President Barack Obama on stage, campaigning for Kamala Harris. The former Democratic president also charmed the audience by singing Lose Yourselfthe hit from the rapper from Detroit.
Barack and Michelle Obama are considered real assets for the Democratic campaign in order to rally the vote of the African-American electorate and, in particular, that of men in key cities.
The former president will also participate in campaign events in the presence of American rock icon Bruce Springsteen.
Photo AFP
The support of Taylor Swift was also eagerly awaited and the great pop star finally announced, at the beginning of September, that she would vote for Kamala Harris, a few minutes after the only debate between the two candidates.
A moment that Megan Duncan describes as having been chosen “very strategically” to have “the most impact”.
Donald Trump slammed the announcement, saying that the singer “was going to pay the price” for this support. “I hate Taylor Swift,” he wrote in capital letters on his Truth Social platform.
Musk, Hogan and Kid Rock
Because on the side of the Republican billionaire, the celebrities are not jostling each other. The only major figure to show his support: Elon Musk, the richest man on the planet.
The boss of SpaceX and Tesla notably injected at least $75 million into his own political organization in support of Donald Trump.
Photo AFP
Very present on his X platform, he publishes partisan messages or spreads erroneous statements around delicate subjects such as immigration.
Recently, he attended a meeting in Pennsylvania and asserted that voters in this key northeastern US state could decide “the fate of Western civilization.”
He even announced offering one million dollars daily to a registered voter in one of the seven key states, a gesture with controversial legality.
Because if Elon Musk is a strong ally, his eccentric personality can also serve as a foil to the most moderate Republicans.
Donald Trump can also count on other celebrities, such as the former wrestler Hulk Hogan, or on some with sometimes more confidential fame such as the musicians Kid Rock and Lee Greenwood.
Photo AFP
Photo AFP
Dana White, boss of the UFC (the main mixed martial arts organization), also showed his support for the ex-president, a way for the Republican’s campaign to target the vote of young men.
Photo AFP
