Is this why Kamala Harris lost the election?

Kamala Harris’ US election dreams are officially dead after she conceded to Donald Trump, but what sparked her downfall?

Kamala Harris’ candidacy is dead and so is the Hollywood celebrity endorsement.

She officially killed that too.

By turning her failed presidential effort into a three month long variety show with splashy performances, bold-face speakers and a carefully rolled out succession of endorsements from La La Land’s most coddled citizens.

Why not? It worked so well for Hillary Clinton and her “Fight Song” of 2016.

When a majority of the electorate overwhelmingly says the country is moving in the wrong direction and they’re being financially crushed by inflation, don’t bother with policy. Offer them a song.

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Photo: Rebecca Droke / AFP

Sung by a rich person. Preferably a very rich person with a mansion — who can also lecture them on how to vote.

On the eve of election day, Oprah introduced Harris at a massive Philly rally where Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga performed, while Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry hit the stage in other cities.

Working man busker Bruce Springsteen sang on the trail as did Megan Thee Stallion. Beyonce? She showed up in Houston. Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez and Fat Joe all spoke at Harris rallies. Taylor Swift endorsed her.

The actors from Marvel’s The Avengers staged a zoom to ‘save democracy’. Jon Bon Jovi even released a song with Harris’ endorsement.

Lizzo, for her part, spoke at Harris’ Detroit rally and then posted a sassy, very relatable, video of her boarding a private jet.

Then came the Al Smith Dinner, a traditional stop off for presidential candidates, to share a moment of bipartisanship and self-deprecating humour.

Instead of showing up, Harris sent in a video with Molly Shannon as her SNL character Mary Katherine Gallagher.

It was a perfect summation of her campaign: She said a few words and then let the famous person do the heavy lifting. And it landed flat.

Numerous celebrities including Taylor Swift came out in support of Harris. Photo: David Eulitt/Getty Images.

Yes, every person who ever attended the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty came out for her. They stumped, they knocked on doors and they posted all about it on social media for virtue points.

And voters saw right through it.

Even though Harris’ slogan was “we are not going back” the campaign was firmly in reverse, taking the DeLorean to 2008.

Back when Hollywood A-listers meant something around here. Obama was on top and rolling out a Julia Roberts or George Clooney for a campaign meant dazzling an important constituency — People magazine readers in middle America.

Did Harris put too much focus on Hollywood’s elite? Picture: Angela Weiss/AFP

But it’s 2024 and the post COVID cultural shift has come into focus. The power of glossy mags, movie studios and other institutions have crumbled under the weight of an internet which has democratised entertainment and the flow of information.

Influence is in the hands of people like Joe Rogan and other streamers and podcasters who came after him.

At Trump’s victory party last night, UFC honcho Dana White got up on stage to acknowledge the podcasters who interviewed Trump and Vance.

“I want to thank the NELK Boys, Adin Ross, Theo Von, Bussin’ With The Boys. And last but not least, the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan,” he said of his friend who endorsed the Republican.

Not that Trump — himself a celebrity – is without his small stable of boldfacers. However, his are more ripped from another era and a little less elitist.

People like Hulk Hogan and God Bless the USA singer Lee Greenwood are more decor in his carefully curated MAGA universe, not meant to convince voters but to create an image.

And others powerful backers like White and Elon Musk, are businessmen who became cultural figures revered for building a meaningful product.

Team Trump has managed to see this shift and tap into it, while still speaking to regular voters, and addressing their actual needs.

This story originally appeared on New York Post and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as Is this why Kamala Harris lost the election?