Staff Reports
Kamala Harris’s campaign to recruit the new wave of social media influencers to boost her candidacy appears to be going about as well as a lead balloon. Despite her team’s best efforts, major streamers are turning down collaboration offers, with a few even going as far as to endorse Donald Trump. It seems the Vice President’s strategy is falling flat in the fast-paced world of social media, where authenticity is currency, and followers aren’t easily swayed by political posturing.
Recent reports reveal that Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, boasting nearly 13 million followers, has been sought after by both the Secret Service and the Harris campaign for a potential collaboration. Yet Cenat has made it abundantly clear: he’s not interested. This rejection speaks volumes about the Vice President’s appeal (or lack thereof) among the very demographic she’s keenest to reach—young voters. Harris’s inability to connect with influential voices in the digital space suggests she might need to rethink her campaign’s foundation.
🚨 HARRIS-WALZ CAUGHT ASTROTURFING CAMPAIGN SUPPORT
An Instagram whistleblower with nearly 150k followers contacted me with screenshots exposing a sophisticated Astroturfing effort underway by the Harris-Walz campaign.
Social media users are being PAID to post pro Harris-Walz… pic.twitter.com/oBVddZT1Vf
— Jake Hoffman (@JakeHoffmanAZ) August 6, 2024
While it’s true that a few influencers have decided to take up Harris’s offer of financial compensation to promote her campaign, this is far from a grassroots movement. Arizona state senator Jake Hoffman recently received correspondence from an influencer who indicated that a woman named Alicia Howard from MJ Ventures was coordinating paid partnerships for the campaign. This exposure of behind-the-scenes maneuvering begs the question: is this really the kind of genuine support that candidates should aspire to garner?
In stark contrast, notable figures like Adin Ross and XQC are not only rejecting Harris but actively championing Trump. Ross’s recent livestream with the former president attracted a staggering 564,000 viewers at its peak, showcasing a level of engagement Harris can only dream of. During this high-profile stream, Ross presented Trump with a Tesla Cybertruck, further endearing himself to the MAGA crowd while giving the cold shoulder to the current administration. Such public displays of allegiance to Trump by influencers who command the attention of millions spell disaster for Harris’s media outreach.
The heart of the problem lies in Harris’s strategy of courting digital influencers—an approach that seems to ignore their growing skepticism of political authenticity. With streamers like Cenat making a point to turn down Harris publicly, the campaign appears to be spiraling into a credibility crisis. One has to wonder if this social media misfire will set off a chain reaction, prompting more influencers to come forward and share similar experiences of being approached by the campaign only to decline. If the trend continues, it’ll paint a clearer picture. While Harris may be trying to innovate, the reality remains that she is struggling to resonate with the very audience she desperately needs.
