An actor who played a fictional TV president hosted the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, as part of the star power that took center stage in support of Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Tony Goldwyn, who portrayed President Fitzgerald Grant III in the ABC drama "Scandal,” was tapped to emcee the convention’s kickoff night. Goldwyn had been active in Democratic politics and had advocated for criminal justice reform. "The Office” TV star Mindy Kaling and actor Kerry Washington, who played a political fixer on "Scandal,” took over convention hosting duties later in the week.
Country artist Mickey Guyton and singer-songwriter Jason Isbell performed on Monday evening. Music legend James Taylor, who sang at the 2012 Democratic convention, closed out the night. A month earlier, George Clooney and other frustrated stars had publicly called for President Joe Biden to exit the race. Some had even threatened to withhold campaign contributions to the party. Feelings changed when Biden ended his reelection bid, and support swelled around Vice President Harris, who, as a native Californian, was no stranger to Hollywood, having served the state as both attorney general and a US senator.
Actors and musicians began clamoring to appear at the convention or other Harris events, according to political consultants. "They are organically, authentically excited about this ticket, not just as celebrities but as people, as parents, as creators,” said Donna Bojarsky, a Democratic strategist who had worked with celebrities. Celebrities including John Legend and Billy Porter headlined nighttime parties and concerts during the four-day convention. "Veep” TV star Julia Louis-Dreyfus was scheduled to moderate a policy discussion with female governors.
While Hollywood names had tended to support Democrats, Republican candidate Donald Trump had brought out some famous backers at his party’s convention in Milwaukee in July. Country singer Lee Greenwood, pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, and reality TV personality Savannah Chrisley were among those who appeared on his behalf. In Chicago, buzz built around pop superstar Beyoncé, given her past support for Democrats. In 2013, Beyoncé had sung the National Anthem at President Barack Obama’s inauguration. In 2016, she and husband Jay-Z headlined a concert for Hillary Clinton.
More recently, the Grammy winner had granted the Harris campaign permission to use the song "Freedom” to pump up crowds at public events, according to CNN. Last year, Beyoncé had gifted a pair of concert tickets to Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff. Beyoncé’s publicist did not respond to requests for comment on whether the singer would take part in the convention.
Democrats had been hoping for support from pop superstar Taylor Swift. The singer was on tour in London on Monday, and there was no indication she would appear in Chicago during the week. Trump had posted a fake image saying Swift had endorsed him. Many Hollywood actors, producers, and filmmakers viewed Harris as their hometown candidate. She shared a home with Emhoff, a former entertainment lawyer, in the celebrity enclave of Brentwood on the west side of Los Angeles. Media executives and stars had gotten to know her during her campaigns for state office and for president in 2020.
In some Democratic circles, however, there was a worry that too many celebrity supporters could fuel a backlash. Some felt Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 election, had created an image of elitism with a long parade of stars campaigning for her. Bojarsky did not share that concern. She believed entertainers’ support helped candidates by drawing the attention of the media and the public, and by providing validation in a celebrity-driven culture.
For Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, celebrity endorsements may have been more significant than in the past, she said. "This campaign is about the zeitgeist,” Bojarsky said. "It’s about the place to be, about where people’s hearts and minds want to be.” When celebrities backed a candidate, "it solidified this notion that this is where you want to be,” she said.
The Democratic convention reached beyond traditional Hollywood. A blue carpet was rolled out for social media stars. Comedian and actor Matt Friend conducted interviews that were featured on Snapchat. After the convention, Hollywood figures were expected to appear at campaign rallies and get-out-the-vote drives in the weeks leading up to the November 5 election. - Reuters