Endorsements
Hillary has recently garnered support from labor unions, the LGBT community, women’s groups, the Latino electorate, and other politicians and international leaders. But she’s had her on eyes on Hollywood for much longer. Some celebrities have only recently jumped onboard #TeamHillary; others have expressed their enthusiasm for her candidacy since Obama took office in 2012.
Here’s a list of Hillary’s A-list supporters. It’s not a comprehensive list, but it’s enough to show you just how much star power Hillary has behind her.
Hillary’s History With Hollywood
Hillary might rake in celebrity endorsements, but she hasn’t always been the favored candidate in Tinseltown. When Hillary ran against Obama in 2008, Hollywood’s loyalties were divided between the two candidates. Even Bill Clinton’s most generous supporters, including business mogul David Geffen, endorsed Obama in 2008.
But the tables have turned in 2016.
“I’ve got an inbox full of people offering to hold events for Hillary,” said Andy Spahn to the LA Times. Spahn’s political consulting firm advises two entertainment power players, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg, who are backing Hillary.
“There is great respect and admiration and excitement around Hillary, and also a very clear understanding of what the stakes are.”
Do Celebrity Endorsements Even Matter?
Yes and no. A study from North Carolina State University concluded that young voters weren’t swayed by celebrity endorsements.
However, the 2008 election told a different story. Seven years ago, Oprah Winfrey endorsed Obama over Hillary. According to a study published in the Journal of Law, Economics & Organization in 2013, Oprah’s support for Obama was estimated to have generated more than 1 million votes for Obama — a “statistically and politically significant” amount that helped him defeat Hillary in the primaries.
Even if celebrity support doesn’t generate votes for the candidate, it does offer two other important benefits: money and motivation. A-list support adds tens of millions of dollars to a candidate’s campaign funds. It also gets out the vote. When Katy Perry, Beyonce, and Ricky Martin show outspoken support for Hillary, they have the power to mobilize groups of fans that wouldn’t have otherwise bothered to vote.
Will Hillary Win Hollywood?
Hollywood wants a Democrat in the Oval Office. Most of Tinseltown is betting that Hillary has what it takes to defeat the Republican candidate for the big showdown in November 2016.
“In 2008, there were two green-light actors vying for the lead role,” said Democratic political consultant Chris Lehane to the LA Times. “In 2016, there is one green-light actor vying for the lead role, which makes it very easy for those in show business to know where they are going on this.”