(NewsNation) — Last night’s Super Bowl dazzled with its halftime spectacle and nail-biting conclusion, and amid the glitz and glamour, one figure associated with the game was making waves in political circles: Taylor Swift.
The pop sensation’s potential influence on the upcoming elections was the subject of a recent op-ed by Democratic strategist Kurt Bardella, catching the attention of pundits and voters alike.
In an interview on NewsNation’s “On Balance,” Bardella suggested a novel approach for Swift to leverage her star power in favor of political engagement. He proposed that Swift could host acoustic concerts in key swing states, where admission would be granted only to those who could prove they were registered to vote.
“I just wouldn’t put it past her to do something to get back at all the vitriol that’s been directed her way,” Bardella said.
Since Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs won their ticket to the Super Bowl, wild conspiracy theories began circulating about Swift, who is dating Kelce, and her potential influence on the 2024 election and the possibility of a rigged Super Bowl.
Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy kicked off the conspiracy chatter, suggesting that the Super Bowl could be rigged to promote Swift’s endorsement for President Joe Biden.
Bardella emphasized the significance of targeting young, female, suburban Democratic women, a demographic crucial for victory in November.
When pressed about the feasibility of Swift’s involvement, Bardella didn’t rule out the possibility. He highlighted Swift’s history of responding to criticism with assertive action, citing examples where she had taken legal action or re-recorded her music to counter adversaries.
Bardella underscored the potential impact of such concerts, noting attendance figures from past Swift performances in major cities across swing states.
Former President Donald Trump on Sunday poured cold water on the idea Swift would endorse Biden amid swirling speculation the incumbent’s campaign team is trying to secure the endorsement of the pop singer.
Swift endorsed Biden in the 2020 election. She sent out one Instagram post that got 35,000 people registered to vote.
“I signed and was responsible for the Music Modernization Act for Taylor Swift and all other Musical Artists. Joe Biden didn’t do anything for Taylor, and never will,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Sunday. “There’s no way she could endorse Crooked Joe Biden, the worst and most corrupt President in the History of our Country, and be disloyal to the man who made her so much money.”
Bardella argued that Swift’s influence shouldn’t be underestimated, especially considering the narrow margins in recent elections and the potential for voter turnout to sway outcomes.
NewsNation’s Leland Vittert questioned whether Democrats might be relying too heavily on Swift’s star power to secure electoral success. Bardella deflected, suggesting that it was the Republican Party’s fixation on Swift that had propelled her into the political spotlight. He criticized Republican attacks on the singer and suggested they had inadvertently boosted her significance in the political arena.