Washington – In the final days leading up to the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris is actively rallying support by bringing in high-profile surrogates to energize her voter base.
On Thursday, Harris is set to appear at a rally in Georgia, which will feature a live performance by music legend Bruce Springsteen and a special appearance from former President Barack Obama, who remains a significant figure in the Democratic Party.
Following this, Harris will head to Texas on Friday for a Houston rally alongside Beyoncé, a globally recognized artist and a proud native of the area. The event is particularly meaningful as Harris has adopted Beyoncé’s 2016 hit “Freedom” as her campaign anthem.
Though Texas is presently a Republican stronghold, even the most optimistic Democrats acknowledge the difficulty in turning the state blue this election cycle. This emphasizes the importance of the Georgia rally, which is seen as crucial for Harris’s strategy to combat former President Donald Trump.
In the 2020 election, Democrats, spearheaded by Joe Biden and Harris, managed to flip Georgia—marking the first Democratic victory in the state since Bill Clinton won it in 1992. Harris’s team hopes to maintain this momentum and keep Georgia aligned with the Democratic Party in 2024.
Recent polling indicates that the race between Trump and Harris is quite competitive in Georgia, as surveys from various organizations suggest a tightly contested election.
The Thursday event marks the launch of the campaign’s “When We Vote We Win” concert series, designed to galvanize Harris’s backers to participate in early voting ahead of the general election.
Expressing her gratitude, Harris stated that she feels “very honored” to have Obama’s backing and referred to Springsteen as an “American icon.” The event will also feature prominent figures like actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry, along with DJ Mix Master David.
Harris is not alone in leveraging the appeal of celebrities; her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, is also scheduled to appear in North Carolina on Thursday alongside singer-songwriter James Taylor.
Historically, Democrats have utilized influential figures to boost their campaigns in the closing days of presidential races, and Springsteen has been a longtime supporter of Democratic candidates.
He was a vocal advocate for Obama during both the 2008 and 2012 elections, even endorsing him during a contentious primary in 2008. He also backed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, recently throwing his support behind Harris, labeling Trump as “the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime.”
Similarly, Beyoncé endorsed Clinton in the 2016 election, performing at a pivotal event in Cleveland alongside her husband, rapper Jay-Z. James Taylor has become a familiar figure at various Democratic events and fundraisers over the years.
However, Democrats remain cautious given that Clinton’s defeat in 2016, despite high-profile endorsements, serves as a reminder that celebrity backing alone may not be sufficient for electoral success.
Advisors on Harris’s campaign see upcoming rallies in Georgia and Texas as essential opportunities to bolster voter enthusiasm and drive turnout before Election Day.
As of now, reports indicate that over 2,025,645 individuals in Georgia have already cast their votes early in person, with an additional 134,336 mail-in ballots submitted for the 2024 election.