Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after the presidential debate appears to have backfired. A recent post-debate poll from YouGov revealed that while 8% of voters were more likely to support the Democratic ticket due to Swift’s endorsement, a significant 20% said they were now less likely to vote for former President Donald Trump’s opponent after Swift’s endorsement.
The majority of respondents, 66%, stated that Swift’s endorsement made no difference in how they will vote in the upcoming election, according to the NY Post.
Swift, with her massive Instagram following of 283 million, made a statement after the debate, saying, “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice.” She encouraged her followers to do the same, praising Harris as “a steady-handed, gifted leader” who could lead with “calm and not chaos.”
Despite Swift’s powerful platform, the impact of her endorsement seems mixed. While 32% believe it could positively affect Harris’ campaign, 27% think it will not make a difference. Interestingly, 41% of respondents expressed the view that Swift should not speak publicly about politics, while 38% felt she should make public endorsements.
The poll also revealed that the majority of Swift’s fans were not supportive of her, with 66% stating they were not fans. Trump, in response to Swift’s endorsement of Harris, criticized her on Truth Social.
Swift’s endorsement not only sparked political conversations but also led to increased traffic on the voter registration website, vote.gov. A spokesperson for the site reported a surge in visitors after Swift shared a custom link on Instagram, indicating a mobilization of civic engagement.
However, the YouGov poll suggests a potential gap between celebrity endorsements and actual voting behavior. While 46% of respondents believed Harris won the debate, only 6% said the debate influenced their vote decision. The majority, 76%, stated that the debate did not impact their voting choice, highlighting a possible disparity between high-profile endorsements and tangible voting shifts.