Celebrity endorsements are hot. Does it matter?

First, Charli XCX posted Vice President Kamala Harris ‘was a bad kid’ on X.After that Beyoncé’s approval of her song“Freedom” and other songs for Harris’ campaign use. Recently, Megan Thee Stallion attended Harris’ rally in Atlanta with musician Quavo.

Since Harris became the Democratic presidential candidate in late July, celebrities have come out in droves to endorse her. Some have worked with the campaign, while others, like Charli XCX, have voiced their support on their own. Other celebrities have also expressed their support, including billionaire Mark Cuban, rapper Cardi B and actress Jane Fonda.

The endorsements bring a new wave of star power to the presidential race, potentially bringing more attention, money and enthusiasm to the campaign. However, whether they can convince those who were originally unwelcome to Harris to consider her remains to be seen. uncertain.

The Bowling Green State University professor said political scientists agree that celebrity endorsements tend to be “ineffective” in winning over voters. David J. Jacksonhe noted, they are more likely to spark voters’ interest in a candidate they already prefer than to convince someone to cross party lines.

Politicians often use celebrities to energize key voting groups — and those who might otherwise be less engaged. Harris, for example, appeared in Atlanta with Megan Thee Stallion and Quavo and seemed focused on appealing to young voters and black voters, two important groups expected to make up a large portion of the electorate this fall.

“Political candidates are relying heavily on celebrities to appeal to the youngest voting demographic of this election cycle: Generation Z,” Melvin WilliamsProfessor of Communication and Media Studies at Pace University.

According to a 2020 Pew Research Center studyGeneration Z made up about 10% of eligible voters that year, with about 45% of voters being non-white. Generation Z voter turnout surges in 2020 It was also crucial in helping President Joe Biden win the presidency, even though young voters historically have lower turnout than other age groups. Black voters have also historically made up a large portion of the Democratic base, 92% Black voters who supported Biden in 2020.

In addition to high-profile gatherings, celebrities such as actors George Clooney Others, such as comedians Tiffany Haddish, Whoopi Goldberg and Nick Offerman, also hosted the Virtual Fundraising MeetupsSuch events highlight how celebrities can become key contributors to campaigns by driving donations and raising profiles.

Former President Donald Trump also saw a number of celebrities speak out on his behalf, including country singer Kid Rock and wrestler Hulk Hogan, who both attended the Republican National Convention. They described Trump as a “bad guy,” “hero,” and “gladiator,” respectively, all of which seemed designed to hype up his masculine image and excite the crowd ahead of his appearance at the event.

Model Amber Rose also spoke at the Republican National Convention, having been scheduled to attend in an apparent effort to broaden Trump’s appeal to black voters after a slight uptick in support among them in 2020. She claimed that Trump didn’t care “if you’re black, white, gay or straight, as long as there’s love.” Like Harris, Trump has tried to connect with younger voters, appearing on podcasts with Gen Z influencers like Logan Paul and Adin Ross, both of whom have young male audiences.

If you are one of the most famous and influential women in the world, you may be able to have some influence on the presidential election. If not, it may be limited.

Oprah Winfrey endorses former President Barack Obama The 2008 Democratic primary was a rare example of a specific endorsement having a tangible, scientifically studied effect on candidate choice. According to a 2013 Northwestern University studyher endorsement — one of her few statements of support in politics — led to an uptick in voter turnout and donations, with about a million people voting for Obama.

A key caveat to the study is that it centered on Democratic primaries, when voters choose from among same-party candidates, rather than general elections, when candidates often have significant partisan divides. In addition, experts note that endorsements can provide more useful information to voters in primaries, when there may be more new and familiar choices. In general elections, when candidates are more well-known, endorsements may be less likely to provide novel insights.

“It was a different environment because it was a Democratic primary and Oprah was involved in the campaign,” said the University of Wisconsin political scientist. Barry Burden Previously told CBS 58, Wisconsin Regional Branch“So everyone involved is essentially a Democrat or sympathetic to Democrats, and that’s where support really matters.”

Still, the case study shows how famous celebrities can leverage their popularity. At the same time, less influential celebrities still have the potential to have a smaller impact. They might strengthen a candidate’s connection with a certain age group or demographic, they can help push people to vote, and they can get more people to donate.

“If you suddenly see on social media or TikTok or wherever that your favorite celebrity is interviewed or talking to a politician, that politician is more likely to attract people’s attention in that way.” Josephine HarmonAssistant Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University in London, previously stated Northeast Global News.

Megan Thee Stallion’s endorsement could bolster Harris’ credibility with her audience and increase her appeal because of the singer’s popularity and influence. Fans who otherwise lean Democratic could also be motivated to register to vote or attend rallies because of her endorsement.

This is likely the case with Taylor Swift’s endorsements in 2018 and 2020. Agree Tennessee Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen and highlighted her opposition to then-Republican Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn over her vote for the Violence Against Women Act and her opposition to marriage equality.

Follow Swift’s 2018 blog postsAccording to Vote.org, 65,000 people between the ages of 18 and 29 are registered to vote. The nonprofit organization credited her post with He noted that this could motivate people to participate who otherwise wouldn’t.

“Celebrities, in general, want to influence voter behavior, but they are more valuable as fundraising tools and as an opportunity to open doors for fans,” David PalaiologosDirector of the Center for Political Studies at Suffolk University, Tell CBS 58.

In such a close election— Poll average of 538 As of Wednesday, Harris leads Trump by less than 2 percentage points nationally — and that small improvement could still be important. “While the effect is widely thought to be small, in an election decided by a handful of votes in a handful of swing states, any impact could be significant,” Jackson told Vox.