Pop superstar Taylor Swift's recent endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris has sparked significant media attention, but a new poll reveals the endorsement may have little impact on the 2024 election. According to a YouGov survey, only 8% of voters said Swift's support made them "somewhat" or "much more likely" to vote for Harris. However, 20% indicated they were now "somewhat" or "much less likely" to back the Democratic ticket because of Swift’s involvement.
Swift, a vocal advocate for social causes, made the announcement shortly after Harris’s September debate against Donald Trump. In an Instagram post to her 284 million followers, the "Anti-Hero" singer expressed her belief that Harris is the right leader to champion the causes she cares about, such as LGBTQ+ rights and social justice. Swift’s post was not only about the endorsement; it also included a call to action, urging fans to register to vote. This drove substantial traffic to the voter registration site Vote.gov, resulting in over 400,000 new visits.
These MAGA swifties are so incredibly dumb. They’re burning their Taylor Swift merch and memorabilia they already paid for 🤦♂️
MAGA is so weird
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) September 13, 2024
Despite the boost in voter registration, the overall impact of Swift’s endorsement appears minimal. The YouGov poll showed that two-thirds of respondents (66%) said her political opinion would not influence their voting decision. This data underscores the mixed reaction Swift received, especially among voters who are not part of her fan base. While some saw her endorsement as a positive force, others expressed concern that it might alienate certain voter demographics.
Celebrity endorsements in politics have always been a double-edged sword. While Oprah Winfrey’s support of Barack Obama in 2008 is credited with delivering a significant number of votes, other Hollywood endorsements—such as those from George Clooney and Angelina Jolie—have had little measurable effect.
Kamala Harris has Taylor Swift.
Donald Trump has President Biden!
Biden is pictured here after firefighters in Shanksville, Pennsylvania convince him to wear a Trump 2024 hat. 😂 pic.twitter.com/EwDZ5fUhO6— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) September 11, 2024
Swift's endorsement seems to fall closer to the latter category, with the poll indicating that 41% of respondents believe celebrities like Swift should not weigh in on politics, while 38% support their involvement.
The reaction to Swift’s endorsement wasn't limited to just the poll numbers. Shortly after the singer's public support for Harris, Donald Trump responded in his typical bombastic style, posting on his Truth Social account, "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT" in all caps. Harris’s campaign fired back, cleverly incorporating references to Swift’s lyrics to criticize Trump’s performance in the debate.
In the broader context of the 2024 election, the poll suggests Swift's support may have energized her core fan base, particularly younger voters and progressives. However, it’s unclear whether this will be enough to significantly shift the electoral landscape. The fact that 20% of voters are now less inclined to support Harris due to Swift’s involvement signals potential challenges ahead for the campaign.
As the race between Harris and Trump intensifies, the influence of celebrity endorsements like Swift's will continue to be debated. While Swift’s advocacy for voter registration is likely to have a positive impact on civic engagement, her direct political endorsements might not carry the same weight with the broader electorate.
