Few celebrities in history have achieved a level of stardom comparable to 2023 Time “Person of the Year” Taylor Swift.
The pop star attained billionaire status last year on the strength of a popular worldwide tour, a record-breaking film based on that tour, and legions of fans willing to support practically anything she does or recommends.
Recent reports indicate that President Joe Biden’s struggling re-election campaign is working on a strategy that, if successful, would tap into Swift’s far-reaching social influence.
According to The New York Times, she is at the top of a wish list of individuals the incumbent president’s campaign hopes will offer an endorsement ahead of the general election.
The strategy has apparently been underway for some time, with campaign insiders even discussing the logistics of securing Biden a spot on stage alongside Swift during a stop on her sold-out Eras Tour.
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom has also been candid about his belief that Swift could be a game-changer for Biden, who has been trailing in the polls behind likely Republican nominee Donald Trump.
“Taylor Swift stands tall and unique,” Newsom said during an interview in September. “What she was able to accomplish just in getting young people activated to consider that they have a voice and that they should have a choice in the next election, I think, is profoundly powerful.”
Swift did endorse Biden in 2020 and heaped praise on both him and Kamala Harris during an interview just weeks before that year’s election.
I spoke to @vmagazine about why I’ll be voting for Joe Biden for president. So apt that it’s come out on the night of the VP debate. Gonna be watching and supporting @KamalaHarris by yelling at the tv a lot. And I also have custom cookies 🍪💪😘
📷 @inezandvinoodh pic.twitter.com/DByvIgKocr
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) October 7, 2020
Although Swift’s fan base includes many Republicans and independents, surveys indicate that a majority — about 55% — are Democrats. Furthermore, her input on political matters has already proven to have a significant impact.
After encouraging her Instagram followers to register to vote in September, more than 35,000 people did as she requested. One poll even found that a significant 18% of voters would be “more likely” or “significantly more likely” to support a political candidate if he or she received the singer’s endorsement.
The situation has prompted some pundits to speculate that there is a deeper conspiracy underway involving the Swift and the Democratic Party.
“The Taylor Swift girlboss psyop has been fully activated,” opined right-wing political activist Jack Posobiec. “From her hand-selected vaccine shill boyfriend to her [double income, no kids] lifestyle to her upcoming 2024 voter operation for Democrats on abortion rights.”
