Kamala Harris’ candidacy is dead and so is the Hollywood celebrity endorsement.
She officially killed that too.
She turned her failed presidential effort into a three-month-long variety show with splashy performances, boldface speakers and a carefully rolled-out succession of endorsements from La La Land’s most coddled citizens.
Why not? It worked so well for Hillary Clinton and her “Fight Song” of 2016.
When a majority of the electorate overwhelmingly says the country is moving in the wrong direction and they’re being financially crushed by inflation, don’t bother with policy. Offer them a song.
Sung by a rich person. Preferably a very rich person with a mansion — who can also lecture them on how to vote.
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On the eve of Election Day, Oprah introduced Harris at a massive Philly rally where Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga performed while Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry hit the stage in other cities.
Working-man busker Bruce Springsteen sang on the trail, as did Megan Thee Stallion. Beyonce? She showed up in Houston. Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez and Fat Joe all spoke at Harris rallies. Taylor Swift endorsed her.
Katy Perry, who was a devoted supporter of Hillary Clinton, has stumped hard for Kamala Harris.
The actors from Marvel’s “The Avengers” staged a Zoom to “save democracy.” Jon Bon Jovi even released a vanity song with Harris’ endorsement. (Enough of a reason to vote against her!)
Lizzo, for her part, spoke at Harris’ Detroit rally and then posted a sassy, very relatable video of her boarding a private jet.
Then came the Al Smith Dinner, a traditional stop for presidential candidates, to share a moment of bipartisanship and self-deprecating humor.
Jennifer Lopez became a vocal backer of Harris, speaking at her rally. AFP via Getty ImagesInstead of showing up, Harris sent in a pathetic video with Molly Shannon as her “SNL” character Mary Katherine Gallagher flitting about.
It was a perfect summation of her campaign: She said a few words and then let the famous person do the heavy lifting. And it landed flat.
Yes, every person who ever attended the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty came out for her. They stumped, they knocked on doors and they posted all about it on social media for virtue points.
And voters saw right through it.
Even though Harris’ slogan was “We are not going back,” the campaign was firmly in reverse, taking the DeLorean to 2008.
That was back when Hollywood A-listers meant something around here. Barack Obama was on top, and rolling out a Julia Roberts or a George Clooney for a campaign meant dazzling an important constituency — People magazine readers in Middle America.
Lizzo spoke at Harris’ Detroit rally and then posted a video of her boarding a private jet. AFP via Getty Images
Kamala Harris looks on as Molly Shannon plays her “SNL” character Mary Katherine Gallagher for a video played at the Al Smith Dinner. Kamala Harris / YoutubeBefore the Democratic Party completely abandoned the working class. Talked down to them. Told them they were racist or bigoted for not putting their pronouns in their bio.
But it’s 2024 and the post-COVID cultural shift has come into focus. The power of glossy mags, movie studios and other institutions has crumbled under the weight of an internet that has democratized entertainment and the flow of information.
Influence is in the hands of people like Joe Rogan and other streamers and podcasters who came after him — the so-called “manosphere.”
At Donald Trump’s victory party last night, UFC honcho Dana White got up on stage to acknowledge the podcasters who interviewed Trump and running mate JD Vance.
Rapper Cardi B was the guest speaker at the When We Vote We Win rally on Nov. 1, 2024. Zuma / SplashNews.com
Unsurprisingly, Bruce Springsteen endorsed Kamala Harris and performed at her late October rally in Philadelphia. REUTERS
Taylor Swift’s splashy endorsement did little to move the needle for Harris. Taylor Swift / Instagram“I want to thank the NELK Boys, Adin Ross, Theo Von, Bussin’ With The Boys. And last but not least, the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan,” he said of his friend who endorsed the Republican.
Not that Trump — himself a celebrity — is without his small stable of boldfacers. However, his are more ripped from another era and a little less elitist.
People like Hulk Hogan and “God Bless the USA” singer Lee Greenwood are more decor in his carefully curated MAGA universe, not meant to convince voters but to create an image.
Singers Beyonce and Kelly Rowland came out to speak at a Harris rally in Houston. Rallygoers were upset that Beyonce didn’t perform. REUTERSAnd others powerful backers like White and Elon Musk are businessmen who became cultural figures revered for building a meaningful product, not for reading lines.
Team Trump has managed to see this shift and tap into it, while still speaking to regular voters and addressing their actual needs.
Meanwhile, Harris will always have the fall of 2024 to look back on, when she got to see a few decent concerts.






