Usher takes the stage during a campaign event for Democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday. REUTERS
US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is vying for the presidency in the upcoming US elections, has received resounding support from prominent music industry pop stars during her campaign rallies. In the final weeks leading up to November's presidential election, two of Harris's events were headlined by notable musicians from the American music scene. Al Jazeera reported that at Harris's first stop in Detroit, Michigan, singer and rapper Lizzo warmed up the crowd with a heartfelt on-stage endorsement. "I already voted early and I voted for Harris," the Detroit native told the audience. Michigan is one of several key swing states in the presidential race, which could swing either towards the Democrat or her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump.
Later in the day, Harris visited Georgia, another pivotal state in the US elections. In Georgia, musician Usher performed for the crowd before delivering his speech. "It's truly wonderful to be home. I'm here, back home, for my Past Present Future Tour but took a brief break to come here and share some thoughts on the importance of this moment," he said. "I believe this is a significant opportunity for all of us. We are just 17 days away from a crucial election, and we have the chance to choose a new generation of leadership for our country."
Al Jazeera noted that Harris's visit to Michigan on Saturday coincided with the first day of in-person early voting in Detroit. Michigan's online "voting dashboard" showed that by Saturday morning, over 1 million mail-in ballots had been received. This was part of a broader trend of strong early voting numbers across the country, suggesting a potential surge in voter enthusiasm. States like North Carolina and Georgia have set records for early-voting turnout this week, according to officials. Gabriel Sterling, the chief operating officer for Georgia's secretary of state, shared on social media that turnout remains high. Georgia's first day of early voting was October 15. "Congratulations to the counties and especially our great Georgia voters. You've broken another RECORD. The biggest turnout ever for a General Election Saturday," Sterling wrote.
During her campaign in Michigan, Harris also reiterated her call for a ceasefire in Gaza. "This creates an opportunity that I believe we must fully utilize -- to commit ourselves to ending this war and bringing the hostages home," she told the media. She added that Middle East policy has long been a challenging issue for the US. "It has never been easy," Harris said. "But that doesn't mean we give up."
Al Jazeera noted that analysts have generally observed that the Democratic Party has been more successful in rallying celebrity support this election cycle. Harris not only enjoys the backing of figures like Lizzo and Usher, but also has the support of celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Oprah, and George Clooney since she became the presidential candidate in July. The US heads into elections in less than two weeks with former US President Donald Trump seeking a second term and Vice President Kamala Harris aiming for her first term in the White House.
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