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Doug Emhoff was unable to secure Taylor Swift’s support for his wife, Kamala Harris, during her unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign, according to a new book. Speculations arose on the eve of the election that the popular singer might make an appearance or even perform at the final rally in Philadelphia, close to Swift’s hometown of West Redding, Pennsylvania. Despite efforts from the former second gentleman, it seems that Swift had already turned down the idea of doing more than endorsing the Democratic nominee.
The book, “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America,” by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf sheds light on Emhoff’s unsuccessful attempt to involve Taylor Swift in the campaign. Swift, known for hits like “Love Story,” declined Emhoff’s requests to take a more active role in supporting Harris for the presidency.
It appears that the plans for Swift to participate in Harris’s campaign event did not come to fruition, despite the initial buzz. The book delves into the behind-the-scenes negotiations and efforts made to enlist the pop star’s help in boosting Harris’s presidential bid.
“Swift proved to be a special challenge,” the authors of the new book, due out Tuesday, explained. “Staffers who worked on celebrity appearances were instructed not to make any outreach to her universe; Doug Emhoff was handling it.”
Emhoff, a former Los Angeles entertainment lawyer, had a prior relationship with Swift’s attorney, Doug Baldridge, and had reached out to him “to convey that the campaign would appreciate any efforts the pop star could make to help Harris” before Swift’s surprise post-debate endorsement, the book claimed.
Baldridge’s devastating response to the Harris camp was: “Swift would do what Swift thought was best.”
“Nothing more than the endorsement ever materialized,” the authors noted.
Philadelphia rally-goers were instead treated to speeches and performances by Fat Joe, Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, The Roots, will.i.am, and Oprah Winfrey.
The Harris campaign put on several star-studded concerts in the days leading up to the former vice president’s Election Day defeat.
Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, Megan Thee Stallion, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, 2 Chainz and Mumford & Sons were among other artists and musical acts that lent their talents to the Harris campaign in an apparent effort to get low-propensity voters out to the polls.
Grammy Award-winning artists Beyonce, Cardi B and Jennifer Lopez also appeared on the stump for Harris, but didn’t perform — upsetting some Harris supporters.
The series of election eve concerts alone reportedly set the campaign back $20 million.
The performances were held in swing states that all went for President Trump the following day.
“Privately, some campaign staff raised concerns that the major rallies may not be worth the millions of dollars they cost to stage or the staff investment,” the authors stated, noting that “There was scant evidence that the rallies were persuading voters or necessarily boosting turnout.”