Since President Obama’s bad debate performance, his re-election campaign has rapidly ramped up its celebrity presence. In the past three days, the campaign has announced three new celebrity driven ads together with three new celebrity events.
Today the campaign released a new ad featuring rap artist Jay-Z reminding voters that Obama represented “hope” to “a nation of kids.” Prominent Obama supporting actresses Scarlett Johansson, Eva Longoria, and Kerry Washington also released a new ad today challenging Mitt Romney on abortion.
Yesterday, the campaign released a new ad featuring the voice of actor Morgan Freeman, reminding voters how hard it was for Obama when he got into office.
Over the weekend, the campaign announced that Obama would return to the “Daily Show” with Jon Stewart at the end of October and that Bruce Springsteen would campaign for Obama this month in Ohio and Iowa. Michelle Obama, it was announced, would return to Hollywood on October 25 for a late October fundraiser hosted by Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, co-hosted by Salma Hayek.
President Obama and the First Lady have personally attended (together and separately) more than 30 events with celebrities for his re-election campaign.
Days after the debate, Obama flew to Hollywood for a concert headlined by Katy Perry, Jon Bon Jovi, Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, and Jennifer Hudson. The event was attended by George Clooney and featured a video address by Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lopez, Julianne Moore, Ashley Judd and Beyonce.
Obama also attended a secret closed door meeting with a handful of Hollywood donors during his trip, which included Dreamworks mogul Jeffery Katzenburg, who additionally hosted a $25,000-per-person dinner for the President.
Obama then traveled to Miami to attend a campaign fundraiser with celebrities Eva Longoria, Sheila E. and Melanie Griffith.
On October 9 – the same day the campaign released an ad featuring Big Bird – singer Will.i.am campaigned for Obama in Ohio. The Black Eyed Peas singer opened the rally with a re-mix of the Sesame Street theme song.
Last weekend, Obama touted the amount of celebrity support in a radio interview.
“Mariah, she’s actually done some events for us,” President Obama reminded voters during a radio interview over the weekend, when asked to weigh in on the Nicki Manaj vs. Mariah Carey fued. “I’ve gotten to know her and Nick, she’s a wonderful lady.”
