The Kamala Harris campaign welcomed social media influencers at the Democratic National Convention this week, aiming to mobilize them to defeat Donald Trump.
Instagram and TikTok celebrities were treated to free drinks, yacht parties, and full VIP access, receiving special treatment not provided to traditional press at the Chicago-based political convention. It often felt more like a festival.
“People need to understand that many of these creators have larger followings than mainstream media outlets like CNN, The New York Times, Univision, Telemundo, ABC,” noted Benjamin Zamora, a former journalist turned influencer with 6.3 million followers.
Zamora spoke from Chicago’s United Center, where influencers were pampered with wine and prime-rib sandwiches.
The Democratic National Convention views content creators as allies, unlike the press, according to Zamora.
Over 200 influencers were accredited for the convention, part of a strategy to expand Harris’s voter base.
Despite this, Harris has not granted interviews or press conferences to mainstream media since Biden endorsed her nomination.
Several influencers made the list of speakers at the convention, including Carlos Eduardo Espina from Uruguay.
On-site, influencers had more freedom to move around than press teams and had a designated area for interviews on the blue carpet.
Traditional media, on the other hand, was situated outside with limited amenities.
– All in for Harris –
Influencer Knowa, a 12-year-old who gained attention for debating with Republican activists, expressed his strong support for Harris.
He has met Harris five times and is fully dedicated to her campaign.
Not all influencers at the convention focus on politics, with some covering beauty, entertainment, and lifestyle topics.
Imani Blair, with 642,000 Instagram followers, interviewed Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer at the convention.
The convention has provided accommodations for some content creators, recognizing their importance as independent voices.
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