In a closely contested presidential race according to the polls, Kamala Harris has relied on Barack Obama, the most prominent figure in the Democratic Party, and several celebrities to give prominence to her campaign events, convey her final message, and reach out to groups of voters who still do not seem convinced to support the current Vice President of the United States with just over a week left until the elections.
This happened last Thursday in Clarkston, a suburb of Atlanta in the key state of Georgia, where Obama, Bruce Springsteen, Samuel L. Jackson, and Spike Lee gathered to show their support for Harris and criticize Donald Trump.
In addition to this, this Friday, Kamala Harris will hold a campaign event in Houston alongside Beyoncé, and a few days ago Eminem expressed his support for the Democratic candidate in Michigan.
Why did they choose Georgia for the campaign event?
Georgia, along with Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada, is one of the seven states that are considered "undecided" and will determine whether Harris or Trump will govern the United States from January 2025 to January 2029.
In 2020, Joe Biden surprisingly won the state by just 12,000 votes, but now the Republican candidate appears to have the lead in the polls.
Obama, who received a warm ovation from the crowd in a packed football stadium, told his audience: “I understand why people want a change, but I don't understand why anyone would think that Donald Trump would make changes that benefit them.” The former president escalated his attacks against the Republican by saying that “we don't need four years of a wannabe king, a wannabe dictator”.
After stating that Trump only focuses on himself, Obama added: "If you choose Kamala Harris... she will focus on you."
Springsteen also focused on Trump.
After performing "The Promised Land," a ballad from his 1978 album "Darkness on the Edge of Town," Springsteen told the audience in Georgia that he supported Harris because he wanted "a president who reveres the Constitution." "There is only one candidate in this election who values those principles, Kamala Harris. She is running to be the 47th president of the United States. Donald Trump is running to be an American tyrant," added Springsteen before performing "Land of Hope and Dreams" and "Dancing in the Dark."
Actor Samuel L. Jackson, director Spike Lee, and actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry also spoke at the beginning of the event.
The event on Thursday is the first in the series of concerts "When We Vote, We Win" from the campaign, which aims to encourage Harris' followers to vote before election day.
Democrats are known for relying on prominent figures in the final days of presidential elections.
Springsteen has long been a supporter of Democratic presidential campaigns. Beyoncé also supported Clinton in 2016, performing at an event in Cleveland alongside her husband and rapper Jay Z just days before the election that year.
Trump's campaign described Harris' use of Obama and Springsteen as "a desperate last resort effort to save her failing campaign." "Relying on celebrities is nothing new for the Hollywood elites' party, and as voters realize Kamala's incompetence and radicalism, she needs additional appeal," the Republican campaign said in a statement.
What did Kamala Harris say at the Georgia rally?
The long rally went on much longer than scheduled and seemed to exhaust the attendees. Although most seats remained filled, hundreds of people left early as Harris spoke after hours of programming.
Harris asked voters to imagine who will be in the Oval Office in three months and reflect on the priorities of the new president. "Is it Donald Trump there, brooding over his list of enemies, or me working for you, checking off tasks from my to-do list," he said. "You have the power to make that decision."
Harris’ rally in Clarkston, a suburb east of Atlanta, reflected the community’s reputation as “the most diverse square mile in America.” The community has received waves of immigrants and refugees, and 40% of its population was of foreign origin in 2020.