How Kamala Harris killed the celebrity endorsement: Parading A-listers instead of policies was always a recipe for disaster

Kamala Harris’ candidacy is dead and truthful is nan Hollywood personage endorsement.

She officially killed that too.

By turning her grounded statesmanlike effort into a 3 period agelong assortment show pinch splashy performances, boldface speakers and a cautiously rolled retired succession of endorsements from La La Land’s astir coddled citizens.

Why not? It worked truthful good for Hillary Clinton and her “Fight Song” of 2016.

When a mostly of nan electorate overwhelmingly says nan state is moving successful nan incorrect guidance and they’re being financially crushed by inflation, don’t fuss pinch policy. Offer them a song.

Sung by a rich | person. Preferably a very rich | personification pinch a mansion — who tin besides speech them connected really to vote.

On nan eve of predetermination day, Oprah introduced Harris astatine a monolithic Philly rally wherever Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga performed while Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry deed nan shape successful different cities.

Working man busker Bruce Springsteen sang connected nan way arsenic did Megan Thee Stallion. Beyonce? She showed up successful Houston. Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez and Fat Joe each said astatine Harris rallies. Taylor Swift endorsed her.

The actors from Marvel’s “The Avengers” staged a zoom to ‘save democracy’. Jon Bon Jovi moreover released a vanity opus pinch Harris’ endorsement. (Enough of a logic to ballot against her!)

Lizzo, for her part, said astatine Harris’ Detroit rally and past posted a sassy, very relatable, video of her boarding a backstage jet.

Then came nan Al Smith Dinner, a accepted extremity disconnected for statesmanlike candidates, to stock a infinitesimal of bipartisanship and self-deprecating humor.

Instead of showing up, Harris sent successful a pathetic video pinch Molly Shannon arsenic her SNL characteristic Mary Katherine Gallagher flitting about.

It was a cleanable summation of her campaign: She said a fewer words and past fto nan celebrated personification do nan dense lifting. And it landed flat.

Yes, each personification who ever attended nan Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty came retired for her. They stumped, they knocked connected doors and they posted each astir it connected societal media for kindness points.

And voters saw correct done it.

Even though Harris’ motto was “we are not going back” nan run was firmly successful reverse, taking nan DeLorean to 2008.

Back erstwhile Hollywood A-listers meant thing astir here. Obama was connected apical and rolling retired a Julia Roberts aliases George Clooney for a run meant dazzling an important constituency — People mag readers successful mediate America.

Before nan Democratic Party wholly abandoned nan moving class. Talked down to them. Told them they were racist aliases bigoted for not putting their pronouns successful their bio.

But it’s 2024 and nan station COVID taste displacement has travel into focus. The powerfulness of glossy mags, movie studios and different institutions person crumbled nether nan weight of an net which has democratized intermezo and nan travel of information.

Influence is successful nan hands of group for illustration Joe Rogan and different streamers and podcasters who came aft him. The truthful called “manosphere.”

At Trump’s triumph statement past night, UFC honcho Dana White sewage up connected shape to admit nan podcasters who interviewed Trump and Vance.

“I want to convey nan NELK Boys, Adin Ross, Theo Von, Bussin’ With The Boys. And past but not least, nan mighty and powerful Joe Rogan,” he said of his friend who endorsed nan Republican.

Not that Trump — himself a personage – is without his mini unchangeable of boldfacers. However, his are much ripped from different era and a small little elitist.

People for illustration Hulk Hogan and “God Bless nan USA” vocalist Lee Greenwood are much decor successful his cautiously curated MAGA universe, not meant to person voters but to create an image.

And others powerful backers for illustration White and Elon Musk, are businessmen who became taste figures revered for building a meaningful product, not for reference lines.

Team Trump has managed to spot this displacement and pat into it, while still speaking to regular voters, and addressing their existent needs.

Meanwhile, Harris will ever person nan autumn of 2024 to look backmost on, erstwhile she sewage to spot a fewer decent concerts.