Taylor Swift supports Kamala Harris after debate

Taylor Swift officially endorsed Kamala Harris after the debate with Donald Trump, posting a powerful message on her Instagram Story, saying the vice president “fights for rights and causes that I believe need a warrior to defend. I think she is a gifted and stable leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are guided by calm and not chaos.”

Swift wrote: “Like many of you, I watched tonight’s debate. If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and where these candidates stand on the topics that matter most to you. As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about the policies and plans being proposed for this country.”

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She continued: “I recently learned that an AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump for president was posted on his website. This really reignited my fears about AI and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It led me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my real plans for this election as a voter. The easiest way to combat misinformation is to tell the truth.”

Getting straight to the point about the moment many fans have been waiting for since July, Swift continued, “I will be voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election. I am voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for rights and causes that I believe need a warrior to champion. I believe she is a gifted and determined leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are guided by calm and not chaos. I was so encouraged and impressed by the choice of her running mate @timwalz, who has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and women’s right to control their own bodies for decades.”

“I did my research and I made my choice,” she concluded. “It’s up to you to do your research and make your choice. I also want to say, especially to new voters: remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it much easier to vote early. I’ll tell you where to register and where to find early voting dates and information in my article.”

“With love and hope,” she signed, “Taylor Swift… A childless cat lady.”

The post was accompanied by a photo of Swift with one of her cats, Benjamin Button, taken during the cover shoot that was done when Time magazine named the singer its Person of the Year last December. Swift’s tagline, “cat lady with no kids,” was a dig at Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance’s scathing comment that this was an important demographic in the Democratic Party.

Swift’s endorsement came less than a half-hour after the debate ended. Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz had a chance to respond quickly, as he was on air when Swift’s missive was sent to the world, and it was read to him by Rachel Maddow mid-interview on MSNBC.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift,” Walz said after Maddow read the text to him. “This will be the occasion, Swifties.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_wtAOKOW1z/?hl=fr

After the debate, Harris went to a Democratic watchdog group in Philadelphia to speak briefly with her supporters. According to Politico, Harris’ opening song at the party was… Swift’s “The Man.”

Fans of the singer will recall that Swift endorsed the Joe Biden/Harris ticket in 2020 on the day of Harris’ debate with Mike Pence, saying she planned to “scream at the TV” in support of Harris.

Swift’s intentions in the election cycle have been at the center of a national debate even before Harris took the lead role on the ticket in July. In previous years, when Swift has made a decisive campaign statement — starting with a 2018 congressional race in Tennessee and continuing through the 2020 presidential race — she has typically waited until early October to make a strong statement supporting the Democratic nominee. This time, she didn’t wait for an “October surprise” and announced her support a month ahead of schedule as she has in the past.

Some wondered whether Swift would immediately react when Trump took to her social media to “accept” the singer’s supposed support for him after her supporters posted mostly fake images of “Swifties for Trump” activists, but the superstar has held back her comments so far.

Although the singer has remained silent so far, many of her fans had assumed she would support Harris, and with or without Swift leading the charge, they formed the group Swifties 4 Harris. A Zoom call hosted by the group brought together politicians like Sen. Elizabeth Warren and singer Carole King and raised more than $100,000 for the Harris-Walz campaign.

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