Enten Provides Data After Endorsement

Vice President Kamala Harris is facing a major challenge in winning over young voters, despite being the Democratic nominee for president.

According to CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten, Harris has not been able to generate the same level of enthusiasm from voters under 30 that President Biden enjoyed during the 2020 election. While Biden held a commanding 28-point lead with this key demographic at the same point in the last race, Harris’s current advantage is just 15 points, signaling a significant drop.

That’s where pop superstar Taylor Swift comes in. Swift, a vocal opponent of former President Trump and a powerful influence among young people, endorsed Harris after the recent presidential debate.

Enten remarked that Swift's endorsement could be a game changer for Harris, particularly if it helps her connect with young voters who have been somewhat elusive this cycle. With young people prioritizing issues like the economy, immigration, and foreign policy, Harris still has an uphill climb to capture their support.

Swift’s influence, however, goes beyond mere words. In her Instagram endorsement, she encouraged her massive following to register to vote. And it seems to be working. NBC News reported that a voter registration link shared by Swift received more than 337,000 visits in just two days.

The pop icon doubled down on her message at the MTV Video Music Awards, telling her fans, “If you are over 18, please register to vote.”

Despite Swift’s efforts, Enten warned that Harris’s campaign is still trailing in terms of voter registration, particularly in key states like Pennsylvania and North Carolina, where the number of newly registered Democrats has significantly declined compared to 2020.

While Republicans have made strides in registering new voters over the past four years, Democrats are struggling to keep pace—a fact that could prove pivotal come election day.

Although Harris holds a 10-point lead over Trump with young voters according to a New York Times/Siena survey, that margin is less than Democrats might hope for. If Swift’s endorsement can boost enthusiasm and help close that gap, it could make a real difference in what is shaping up to be a tight race.