# How much of an impact could Taylor Swift have on the 2024 election? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 18, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758 "2023-08-18T14:49:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/181 "2024-09-11T19:01:02Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > Swift … makes C&W-adjacent music. > > It’s been a long time since that was true. She released a folky album during Covid, but her other recent albums have been far closer to dance-pop than C&W. > > (Ms Akaj is a huge Swiftie.) > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Thanks for the update. I heard one of hers recently and I suppose from the twangy voice and the “he done left me” lyrics I pegged it as C&W even if the beat, instrumentals, etc. were more pop-ish. It’s worth mentioning that country music was Swift’s major early influence, so much so that her family moved to Nashville (actually, to a small town just outside of it) when she was just 14 to help her break into the country music scene. She’s now wealthy enough to own homes all over the country, but her primary residence and cultural home is still Nashville. Anyway, I don’t know how big this endorsement is going to be, but it certainly ought to help get out the youth vote. And it’s a wonderful F.U. to Trump who falsely claimed she had endorsed him, and to Vance with the priceless “childless cat lady” signoff. It makes the two of them look like the out-of-touch backward troglodytes that they are. Somehow the timing coming immediately after Harris trounced Trump in the debate seems perfect. I imagine that last night, overall, resulted in a certain amount of flying ketchup in the Trump domicile! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/182 "2024-09-11T19:02:44Z")
> [@squidfood](#): > > > [@hajario](#): > > > > Millions of her fans have turned 18 since 2020. She is getting them engaged. They will register and they will vote. > > How strong do her Pennsylvania roots hold up these days? Probably not very. The “roots” of a rich kid growing up privileged don’t tend to resonate with the common folk. And she moved to Nashville because of her music career when she was 13 or 14. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/183 "2024-09-11T19:04:40Z")
Taylor Swift saves the country. Huh. Now we need a song praising her. But by whom? Neil Young perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/184 "2024-09-11T19:08:49Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Probably not very. The “roots” of a rich kid growing up privileged don’t tend to resonate with the common folk. Her father was a stockbroker but I wouldn’t say her childhood was especially “privileged” – more like middle class. She grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania before moving to Nashville. She was privileged only in the sense that her parents actively helped her pursue a music career. But I agree that her Pennsylvania childhood is irrelevant and probably unknown to most folks. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/185 "2024-09-11T19:30:10Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > Probably not very. The “roots” of a rich kid growing up privileged don’t tend to resonate with the common folk. > > Her father was a stockbroker but I wouldn’t say her childhood was especially “privileged” – more like middle class. She grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania before moving to Nashville. She was privileged only in the sense that her parents actively helped her pursue a music career. But I agree that her Pennsylvania childhood is irrelevant and probably unknown to most folks. Don’t make her out to be a farmer. Her father bought a nice house on a big piece of property off of a client then later moved to a very nice house that recently sold for $1 million. And they had a summer home in Stone Harbor. Stone Harbor is one of my favorite towns on the Jersey Shore that is definitely in the “I wish I was rich enough to live there” category. Currently Stone Harbor has the highest median house price in the state. $4.2 million. I know housing prices aren’t the same as they were 20 years ago but Stone Harbor was a rich people town my entire life. She didn’t have a Trumpian upbringing but by any measure she was privileged. If they were middle class it was in the very upper reaches of the upper middle class. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/186 "2024-09-11T20:07:11Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > She didn’t have a Trumpian upbringing but by any measure she was privileged. If they were middle class it was in the very upper reaches of the upper middle class. I’m sorry, but is there a point here? Taylor was in a well to do family. So was I. She made herself into what she is with talent and marketing chops. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/187 "2024-09-11T20:12:35Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > She didn’t have a Trumpian upbringing but by any measure she was privileged. If they were middle class it was in the very upper reaches of the upper middle class. > > I’m sorry, but is there a point here? Taylor was in a well to do family. So was I. She made herself into what she is with talent and marketing chops. The only point is the one minor question I was answering which was “How strong do her Pennsylvania roots hold up these days?” To which I replied “Probably not very.” Try not to read any more into it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/188 "2024-09-11T20:27:54Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > The only point is the one minor question I was answering which was “How strong do her Pennsylvania roots hold up these days?” To which I replied “Probably not very.” Try not to read any more into it. OK. So not like Bruce and N.J. I suppose. He is a GOD in N.J. At least from what I understand. That could be a strong campaign image, if Swift would indorse it. She’s a Pennsylvania girl. We need to lock in PA. (note: I’m not a Taylor Swift fan or not. I don’t know her music at all) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/189 "2024-09-11T20:46:00Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > The only point is the one minor question I was answering which was “How strong do her Pennsylvania roots hold up these days?” To which I replied “Probably not very.” Try not to read any more into it. > > OK. So not like Bruce and N.J. I suppose. He is a GOD in N.J. At least from what I understand. > > That could be a strong campaign image, if Swift would indorse it. She’s a Pennsylvania girl. We need to lock in PA. > > (note: I’m not a Taylor Swift fan or not. I don’t know her music at all) Plenty of people here don’t like Springsteen but he certainly is of the state. He really did have the blue collar background he portrayed. Even after becoming fabulously wealthy he never moved out of the state and still lives here. Every so often there is a picture posted of him in a local deli taking a picture with a fan. The question was whether her Pennsylvania roots could help in that important battleground state. I personally don’t think it will. At least no more than her influence in any other state for the reasons I gave. She didn’t have the family background that resonates with average voters and she moved away at a young age. And she wears Kansas City Chiefs gear at football games. Maybe if she stayed loyal to the Eagles… Swift’s endorsement might help overall. It’s not going to hurt. I just don’t see it helping more in Pennsylvania than anywhere else. Here’s a recent article about Bruce stopping at a local pizza place. Just an example of how he has maintained a deep connection to the area. Swift doesn’t have that connection to Pennsylvania, a place she moved away from 20 years ago. > **[Bruce Springsteen spotted at Jersey Shore pizzeria while working on new movie...](https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2024/08/bruce-springsteen-spotted-at-jersey-shore-pizzeria-while-working-on-new-movie-about-his-life.html?outputType=amp)** > > The Boss eating Jersey pizza. What could be more Jersey than that? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/190 "2024-09-11T21:04:36Z")
I would imagine many people were involved in drafting it. That sort of writing is heavily collaborative. I would imagine she part of lots of meetings. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/191 "2024-09-11T21:05:58Z")
I think many in this thread are making an error in categorization. Bruce Springsteen has fans. Taylor Swift has [Swifties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swifties). Through her songwriting, her concerts, her social media presence, her outreach to fans and charities, she has bonded with a very large cohort that covers several generations (she’s been performing professionally for almost twenty years). > **[Swifties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swifties)** > > Swifties are the fandom of the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Regarded by journalists as one of the largest, most devoted, and influential fan bases, Swifties are known for their high levels of participation, creativity, community, fanaticism, and cultural impact on the music industry and popular culture. They are a subject of widespread coverage in the mainstream media. > Critics have opined that Swift has redefined artist–fandom relationships by establishing an intimate connection wi... People who are wondering if her endorsement (and follow through) might have some effect in Pennsylvania are missing the sheer size and involvement of her fanbase in Pennsylvania (native daughter or not) and beyond that the real implications of what the potential effect could be nationwide. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/192 "2024-09-11T21:13:51Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > Through her songwriting, her concerts, her social media presence, her outreach to fans and charities, she has bonded with a very large cohort that covers several generations (she’s been performing professionally for almost twenty years). > > [Swifties - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swifties) > > People who are wondering if her endorsement (and follow through) might have some effect in Pennsylvania are missing the sheer size and involvement of her fanbase in Pennsylvania (native daughter or not) and beyond that the real implications of what the potential effect could be nationwide. Well said. The word “superstar” has been much abused, as it’s been applied to almost anyone who’s more or less famous. But Taylor Swift is someone who genuinely deserves the term. I certainly hope that her influence in politics is commensurate with her stature in the music culture. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/193 "2024-09-11T21:20:26Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > I think many in this thread are making an error in categorization. Bruce Springsteen has fans. Taylor Swift has [Swifties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swifties). > > Through her songwriting, her concerts, her social media presence, her outreach to fans and charities, she has bonded with a very large cohort that covers several generations (she’s been performing professionally for almost twenty years). > > [Swifties - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swifties) > > People who are wondering if her endorsement (and follow through) might have some effect in Pennsylvania are missing the sheer size and involvement of her fanbase in Pennsylvania (native daughter or not) and beyond that the real implications of what the potential effect could be nationwide. Did any of the Swifties actually think she was going to vote for Trump? She endorsed Biden in 2020. I’m glad to see her being vocal about it again but there was little doubt where she was going to land. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/194 "2024-09-11T21:49:03Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > As a side note, do people here think the wrote the endorsement herself or was it prepared (with her input and final authorization) by a social media staffer? Why would you suspect that she didn’t write it? ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/195 "2024-09-11T21:54:11Z")
More to the point… Why does it matter? Its perfectly acceptable to use a professional to help you say what you want to say with accuracy and clarity ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/196 "2024-09-11T21:54:56Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > The “roots” of a rich kid growing up privileged don’t tend to resonate with the common folk. Ha ha. Donald Trump. Amirite? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/197 "2024-09-11T22:02:14Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Probably not very. The “roots” of a rich kid growing up privileged don’t tend to resonate with the common folk. This is rich considering “the common folk” are lining up sacrifice their firstborn for a chance to sniff a purported billionaire’s crotch. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/198 "2024-09-11T22:09:55Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Did any of the Swifties actually think she was going to vote for Trump? Some probably did. I’m sure she has fans who are MAGA too. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/199 "2024-09-11T22:35:00Z")
She actually sat down and used her phone or laptop to post? Doubt it. Approved it? I’m sure she did. Told her _secretary_ or _assistant_ what to type? Yes. Whether it makes a whole lot of difference? Don’t care. We’ll probably never know. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758/200 "2024-09-11T22:38:35Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > OK. So not like Bruce and N.J. I suppose. He is a GOD in N.J. At least from what I understand. > > That could be a strong campaign image, if Swift would indorse it. She’s a Pennsylvania girl. We need to lock in PA. I don’t know–her Pennsylvania days were in the past. If she tried to present herself as all Penn-like there would be cries of carpetbaggetry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758.md?page=11)