FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Vice President Kamala Harris hopes to appeal to easily persuaded and less motivated voters by participating in a livestream with former talk show host Oprah Winfrey on Thursday evening.
The event, titled “Unite for America,” is hosted by Winfrey from suburban Michigan, a key campaign area. The event relies on celebrities such as Brian Cranston, Jennifer Lopez and Meryl Streep, but also the stories of ordinary voters to spread Harris’ message. Before Winfrey introduced the vice president, more than 210,000 people watched the livestream of Harris’ campaign on YouTube – the event was also streamed on other major social media platforms.
Harris’ campaign hopes the event will have the same impact as Winfrey’s talk show, which topped bestseller lists and allowed celebrities to show their softer side and ordinary people to tell stories of struggle and inspiration. Harris is working to share her biography and governing philosophy with voters even during her abbreviated presidential campaign, with early voting already underway in some states.
Harris has limited her interaction with traditional media, instead emphasizing digital engagement and casual – and often more controlled – moments as she campaigns to reach voters who increasingly get their news from digital sources.
“I want to take my daughters to the White House to meet this black president,” said comedian Chris Rock.
The circular stage is reminiscent of a college campus, with its brick pillars and trees in the background and green grass beneath the chairs of several hundred guests. Dozens of other supporters could be seen on video screens in the hall.
The event is intended as a coalition of Harris support groups that formed organically after a “Black Women for Harris” rally drew tens of thousands of viewers – and raised $1.5 million – in the hours after Harris succeeded President Joe Biden in July after he ended his campaign. They included “White Dudes for Harris,” “Comedians for Harris” and “Swifties for Harris.”
The campaign said Harris and Winfrey would directly call on viewers to volunteer for Harris’ campaign and to make calls and knock on doors on behalf of the Democrat.
