Hollywood’s support for Kamala Harris raises funds, but will it impact the vote?

The Democratic candidate for the American presidential election is expected next Sunday in Los Angeles, the capital of American entertainment, where a real “Kamala-mania” currently reigns.

From Taylor Swift to George Clooney, stars are flocking to support Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the November 5 US presidential election. But experts say their power to influence voters’ votes is marginal compared to their ability to raise funds.

Historically, Hollywood has leaned more Democratic than Republican. And Harris is beloved in Los Angeles, where she is expected on Sunday, September 29, for her first fundraiser in the city since entering the race for the White House.

However, the “Kamala-mania“has skyrocketed since Joe Biden stepped down from his post at the end of July to the vice president.”The level of enthusiasm is comparable to that of the first campaign of (former Democratic President Barack) Obama.” said Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, a Hollywood producer who has raised money for the Democratic Party.

But how can we make the most of this momentum from Hollywood stars?There is not much evidence that supporting a candidate makes a difference.“Some clumsy messages from left-leaning celebrities can even dissuade fans from voting, notes Mark Harvey, a professor at Saint Mary’s University and author of a book on the subject.

Mark Harvey explains that, according to a study to be published soon, a hypothetical call to vote Democrat from the ultra popular Taylor Swift would make voters “less likely to go to the polls” compared to a non-partisan message. On Instagram, the 34-year-old singer recently found a middle ground, saying she would personally vote for Kamala Harris while urging her fans to draw their own conclusions.

“Celebrities, in general, do not have a significant impact on whether people vote, but they can play a vital role in fundraising. They should also be used more to encourage people to register to vote.“, considers Ellen Goldsmith-Vein.

Former California prosecutor and senator Kamala Harris has already been able to count on generous donations from Hollywood during her previous campaigns. Actors are very numerous to support her, like Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep and Ben Stiller, who participated in a rally organized by the presenter Oprah Winfrey.

While actors like Laura Dern, Danny DeVito and Bob Odenkirk have made individual donations, the bulk of the money comes from “Hollywood industry“, including studio bosses, analyzes Steven Ross, historian and Hollywood specialist. In June, during an event organized for Joe Biden, then candidate, and with the presence of George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Jimmy Kimmel, 30 million dollars had been collected.

But when it comes to telling fans how to vote, things get complicated for celebrities.You’re not going to convince people to give up their guns or change their minds about abortion.“, judges the specialist Mark Harvey. Unless they are considered experts. For him, Taylor Swift’s impact would therefore be much greater if she sang at a fundraiser or a campaign rally, because the “people will pay to see their idol do what they like them to do“.