Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris has led to a significant backlash, particularly among Republican voters. According to a recent NBC News poll, Swift’s favorability rating has dropped from 40% last year to 33% this year. Meanwhile, negative opinions of the pop star have surged from 16% to 27%.
The fallout has been most pronounced among Republicans. Last year, only 26% of Republicans viewed Swift unfavorably, but that number has now skyrocketed to 47%. Simultaneously, the percentage of Republicans who view her positively has dropped from 28% to just 12%. This sharp decline suggests that Swift’s endorsement of Harris, a highly controversial political figure, has alienated a significant portion of her conservative fan base.
The endorsement came after the first presidential debate in September, where Harris, who has faced criticism for her handling of the border crisis and fentanyl epidemic, has struggled to gain traction with key voter blocs. While Swift encouraged her fans to research candidates and vote as they see fit, her public support for Harris appears to have had unintended consequences.
Independents, another key group, also appear to be cooling on Swift. Her favorability rating among independents has fallen from 34% last year to 26% now. Many independents seem wary of Swift’s alignment with Harris, who is viewed by some as an ineffective leader, particularly when it comes to national security and immigration.
Even among Democrats, Swift’s endorsement hasn’t had a resounding impact. While her popularity among Democratic voters rose from 53% to 58%, this small uptick pales in comparison to the decline she has seen among other groups. It appears that Swift’s influence in the political arena may be waning, with her attempt to sway voters toward Harris generating more criticism than support.
