Published on: September 12, 2024, 10:18h.
Last modified on: September 12, 2024, 10:21h.
Considerable attention has been brought this week to pop singer Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris. However, she is not the sole celebrity to attract notice for endorsing a presidential candidate.
Another Las Vegas icon, Frank Sinatra, declared his support for Ronald Reagan multiple times during the 20th century.
The first endorsement occurred during Reagan’s gubernatorial campaign in California and was followed by another during his bid for the U.S. presidency.
Sinatra, who was known for his outspoken backing of Democrat John Kennedy in the 1960s, also became co-chairman of the Californians for Reagan group when Reagan, a Republican, ran for governor in 1970.
Sinatra, Martin Stood By Reagan
A decade later, Sinatra and fellow Las Vegas entertainer Dean Martin supported Reagan when he officially announced his presidential candidacy.
It’s incorrect to claim that another Las Vegas legend, Elvis Presley, endorsed President Richard Nixon.
The misconception arose after Elvis posed for a photo with Nixon during a visit to the White House in 1970. He requested a meeting with the president and asked for a federal agent badge.
However, a genuine celebrity endorsement occurred much later when Oprah Winfrey publicly endorsed Barack Obama in 2008, aiding his presidential campaign.
Nevertheless, Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris this week garnered significant attention and might impact the election.
“Taylor Swift’s post-debate endorsement of Harris … will certainly move the needle given her influence/fan base. Indeed, I do not think it is an overstatement to say that Swift’s endorsement is the most consequential celebrity endorsement in political history,” Robert Jarvis, a professor at the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center and gambling law expert, told Casino.org
Swift’s Support
Shortly after Tuesday’s debate, Swift announced in her online post, “I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election.”
“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz …”
It was also revealed on Thursday, Americans won’t see another debate between Trump and Harris. Harris’ campaign wanted one, but Trump said no.
Trump claimed victory in this week’s debate, although many observers considered Harris the winner. Trump and his supporters also criticized the ABC news anchors who moderated the debate for allegedly showing bias in favor of Harris.