Harris basks in star power, but can it power her to White House?

WASHINGTON: If star-power and celebrity endorsement could swing the US Presidential elections, Kamala Harris may well have it in the bag. Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Jennifer Lopez were among the celebrities who pitched for the Democratic candidate in an emotional online event hosted by Oprah Winfrey centering on women's reproductive rights, a lightning rod for female voters in America.

Members in the live audience dabbed tears on Thursday as Winfrey introduced the mother of a Georgia woman who died after waiting for medical attention in a state that has banned most abortions. They also gave a standing ovation to a 22-year-old Kentucky woman who said she had been raped and impregnated by her stepfather, and that Trump's support for overturning constitutionally protected abortion rights took away women's freedom.

The 90-minute event brought together over 100 online groups including White Dudes for Harris, Cat Ladies for Kamala and Latinas for Harris, to discuss a range of issues from gun violence to cost of living to immigration, allowing Harris to speak in a congenial atmosphere.

Asked by Meryl Streep how she was preparing for the "shenanigans” that would arise, if Trump does not accept election results, Harris urge people to talk with their friends about misinformation, to protect poll workers and to not be afraid to vote, and said lawyers would be working on the issue too.

Harris is traveling on Friday to Georgia -- a battleground state where there are already fears of gridlock on election day -- to deliver remarks on reproductive rights.

Bereft of star support save for a couple of little-known singers and actors and a fake wrestler, the Trump campaign ridiculed the Oprah-Harris event and the Democratic Party as "elitist," but still boasted of a new endorsement -- from singer Lady Gaga's father.

Trump has become increasingly resentful of celebrity support for Harris, petulantly tweeting "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT" after the cultural icon endorsed her last week. In a recent video clip posted on X, the actress Jane Fonda, who is now 86, was seen canvassing door-to-door for Harris in Michigan. The Democratic switch from Biden to Harris was triggered by another Hollywood celebrity -- George Clooney.

None of this is guaranteed to power Harris to the White House although there has been a massive uptick in voter registration among young people after Taylor Swift's endorsement. Harris herself has repeatedly urged supporters to take nothing for granted and said she her side is the "underdog" in the race.

Oprah Winfrey echoed the sentiment at the event, saying, “We love having you here, but the rah-rah moment is going to end, and then we need to get to work.”