Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz might not have the impact that some had hoped. A post-debate poll by YouGov found that while 8% of voters were more likely to support the Democratic candidates due to Swift’s endorsement, a larger 20% were actually less likely to do so. The majority of respondents, 66%, stated that Swift’s endorsement did not affect their voting decision for the upcoming election.
In a post on Instagram, Taylor Swift called Kamala Harris a “steady-handed, gifted leader” who could bring calm to the country. The poll found that 32% of respondents believe Swift’s endorsement will have a positive impact on Harris’ campaign, while 27% did not think it would make a difference. Additionally, 41% of participants felt that Swift should not speak publicly about politics, while 38% believed that she should make public endorsements.
Despite the mixed reactions to Swift’s endorsement, her influence was evident in the surge in traffic to the voter registration website vote.gov following her post. A spokesperson reported that 337,826 visitors accessed vote.gov after clicking on the custom link shared by Swift on Instagram. The poll also revealed that while 46% of people believed that Harris won the debate compared to 19% for Trump, only 6% stated that it led them to reconsider their vote, with 76% maintaining their initial decision.
The poll respondents were divided in their opinions on Taylor Swift, with 66% claiming not to be fans of the artist, while 28% reported being fans and 6% identified as big fans. Most of the big fans were women and registered Democrats. Despite the varying sentiments towards Swift’s political endorsement, it is clear that her influence reaches a wide audience and has the potential to sway voter engagement and participation.
Looking ahead to the upcoming election, it remains to be seen how Swift’s endorsement will impact the voter turnout and decision-making process for Americans. While there are those who find her political advocacy unwarranted, others are encouraged by her support for candidates such as Kamala Harris. The conflicting reactions to Swift’s endorsement highlight the complex nature of celebrity influence in politics and the differing perspectives on the intersection between music and activism. Ultimately, the impact of Swift’s endorsement will be revealed on election day as voters cast their ballots for the candidates of their choice.
