Hillary Clinton is kind of like that friend who claims to love every type of music. Only in this case, instead of doing it to show off her musical acumen, she’s just trying to get out the vote so she becomes US president.
With exactly one week until election day, the Democratic hopeful is hosting a coast-to-coast concert series that is as diverse as it is glamorous. Clinton has long received support from hundreds of celebrities, but the performers selected for these concerts represent a very deliberate effort to help get out the vote in swing states as Nov. 8 looms.
The presidential race has tightened recently, as more Republicans consolidate around Donald Trump in the final days of the campaign. Fallout from FBI director James Comey’s letter to Congress about an investigations into Clinton’s email has not significantly impacted the polls. Still, Clinton’s lead (about four points) is no longer looking very comfortable.
Last week, Jennifer Lopez and her ex-husband Marc Anthony reunited for a free concert in Miami in support of the Democratic nominee. But that was just the beginning.
Each day this week, there will be at least one star-studded concert staged on behalf of Clinton. The concert series includes a wide range of musical genres and covers just about every decade since the 1960s. Philadelphia gets two shows, with suburban mom favorites Sara Bareilles and Katy Perry, no doubt intended to excite a constituency that has been considered a litmus test for the candidates’ appeal.
Only Clinton could sponsor events by Steve Aoki and Cher on the same day. Now that’s coalition building.
Clinton herself will appear at the Jay Z performance in Cleveland. She’s sending her husband, former US president Bill Clinton, and running mate Tim Kaine to Des Moines to appear with Ben Harper. And while Cher will be appearing at three fundraisers for Clinton, it’s not believed that the 70-year-old Goddess of Pop will actually perform at any of them.
Clinton’s rolodex of celebrity supporters and surrogates is in stark contrast to her opponent Donald Trump’s, which includes rocker Kid Rock and actor Scott Baio, best known as Chachi from the 1970s sitcom Happy Days.
After singer Adele endorsed Clinton at a concert last month (which Clinton attended), Trump seemed agitated.
“I think it’s so unfair because, you know, Hillary Clinton goes to see an Adele concert last night, and everybody says, ‘Oh, wasn’t that nice. Isn’t that wonderful?'” he told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. “Nobody complains when she goes to an Adele concert all night long, while I’m making two speeches at rallies with, you know, massive crowds.”
A number of musicians, including Adele and the Rolling Stones, have asked Trump to stop playing their music at his events.