Hollywood’s biggest donors and political influencers have grown increasingly averse to President Biden, but Vice President Harris’ announcement that she will run for the White House could reveal their more favorable side.
“There’s a new excitement going on. Hollywood celebrities are rooting for Kamala as if she’s the second coming,” Donald Critchlow, a professor of political history and director of the Center for American Institutions at Arizona State University, told ITK.
Following intense pressure from Democratic lawmakers and celebrities such as “Ocean’s 11” star George Clooney, Biden on Sunday withdrew from the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Harris.
“I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country that I step aside and focus on fulfilling the duties of my presidency for the remainder of my term,” Biden, 81, said in a statement.
Since then, Harris has raised tens of millions of dollars and secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to become the party’s nominee by November.
Some of Biden’s biggest celebrity supporters, including Barbra Streisand, Eva Longoria and “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill, praised Biden’s move and announced their support for Harris.
“I believe in Kamala Harris and I believe in our united effort to win this!” the former ‘Desperate Housewives’ star said. Longoria writes:On social media.
“I am so grateful to President Biden and excited to support Kamala Harris.” Streisand isStatement to The New York Times.
Hamill called the vice president “a candidate who will honor and advance the cause.” [Biden’s] Legacy,” with the hashtag “HamillHeartsHarris.” Social Platform X.
“Kamala Harris entering the race may create a different kind of momentum,” said Mark Harvey, a professor at Saint Mary’s University.
“Now we have a younger person who many people see as a little more in tune with the times and a little cooler than ‘old Joe Biden,’ and in some ways more celebrities will be drawn to her,” Harvey, author of “Celebrity Influence: Politics, Persuasion, and Issue-Based Advocacy,” said of the 59-year-old Harris.
Actor Mark Hamill (R) speaks with reporters with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in the James Brady Briefing Room at the White House on May 3, 2024 in Washington.
Biden has had a string of celebrity backings in the past — Clooney hosted a record-breaking star-studded fundraiser with Julia Roberts and Jimmy Kimmel last month and urged Biden to drop out of the race in a New York Times op-ed earlier this month — but experts say a Harris candidacy could rekindle Hollywood’s support, both financially and publicly.
“I don’t think they had a choice to support Harris after she raised money for Biden and then participated in a campaign to undermine and throw him out of the election, so they have to put their money where their mouth is,” said Critchlow, author of When Hollywood Got It Right: How Movie Moguls, Movie Stars, and Big Corporations Reshaped American Politics.
“We are all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice President Harris’ historic request,” Clooney said in a statement to ITK this week.
Harvey said celebrities “don’t have a huge impact on the outcome of an election,” but they can have an impact through their massive fundraising power.
“Where they make a difference is in terms of fundraising. [Democrats] It could give you a differentiated advantage,” Harvey said.
But another area where Hollywood can make a difference is in reinvigorating younger voters.
Hours after Ms Harris announced her candidacy, Charlie XCX gave her a ride and called her “Gaki,” a reference to Charlie’s latest hit album, “Gaki.”
“I think there’s a cool factor when people in Hollywood become a little more public in how they present themselves,” Harvey said.
But appealing to young celebrities and gaining their support can only go so far for a candidate, Critchlow warned, citing the wave of A-list endorsements that former President Barack Obama enjoyed during his run for the White House.
“There was a lot of talk about the youth movement, but the youth vote only increased by a few points in the first election and then dropped off substantially. [in 2012]” said Mr Critchlow.
“The Midwest is key for the Democrats. I don’t think young black and white male workers are going to vote just because a few young Hollywood celebrities are endorsing Harris.”
While a handful of stars have supported former President Trump’s efforts to retake the White House — professional wrestling great Hulk Hogan and “American Bad Ass” singer Kid Rock appeared onstage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last week — Critchlow said the 45th president’s campaign has an opportunity to blast Harris for appearing to be too close to prominent figures on the left.
He said the Trump campaign could portray the vice president “as a member of the Washington elite and get as much Hollywood around her neck as possible.”
But St. Mary’s University’s Harvey said, “I think Kamala Harris getting more money is a threat to the Trump campaign.”
Hollywood, like politics, can be unpredictable, and it remains to be seen whether showbiz enthusiasm will carry Harris through to November, but for now, the celebrity enthusiasm for her campaign is rivalling that of a blockbuster movie’s opening weekend box office haul.
“There’s a point in a campaign where momentum happens, a measurable point where certain things line up in the media a certain way, people get energized and one of the candidates has the momentum to move them forward,” Harvey said. “Harris has had that momentum in recent days.”
