How Kamala Harris killed the celebrity endorsement: Parading A-listers instead of policies was always a recipe for disaster

Kamala Harris’ candidacy is dead and so is the Hollywood celebrity endorsement.She officially killed that too.By turning her failed presidential effort into a three month long variety show with splashy performances, boldface speakers and a carefully rolled out succession of endorsements from La La Land’s most coddled citizens.Why not? It worked so well for Hillary Clinton and her “Fight Song” of 2016.When a majority of the electorate overwhelmingly says the country is moving in the wrong direction and they’re being financially crushed by inflation, don’t bother with policy.Offer them a song.Sung by a rich person.

Preferably a very rich person with a mansion — who can also lecture them on how to vote.On the eve of election day, Oprah introduced Harris at a massive Philly rally where Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga performed while Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry hit the stage in other cities.Working man busker Bruce Springsteen sang on the trail as did Megan Thee Stallion.Beyonce? She showed up in Houston.

Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez and Fat Joe all spoke at Harris rallies.Taylor Swift endorsed her.The actors from Marvel’s “The Avengers” staged a zoom to ‘save democracy’.

Jon Bon Jovi even released a vanity song with Harris’ endorsement.(Enough of a reason to vote against her!)Lizzo, for her part, spoke at Harris’ Detroit rally and then posted a sassy, very relatable, video of her boarding a private jet.Then came the Al Smith Dinner, a traditional stop off for presidential candidates, to share a moment of bipartisanship and self-deprecating humor.Instead of showing up, Harris sent in a pathetic video with Molly Shannon as her SNL character Mary Katherine Gallagher flitting about.It was a perfect summation of her campaign: She said a few words and then let the famous person do the heavy lifting.

And it landed flat.Yes, every person who ever attended the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty came out for her.They stumped, they knocked on doors and they po...