Kamala Harris’ candidacy is dead as is the support of Hollywood celebrities.

She officially killed him too.

By turning his presidential failure into a three-month variety show with splashy performances, daring speakers and a carefully deployed succession of endorsements from La La Land’s most pampered citizens.

Why not? It worked so well for Hillary Clinton and her 2016 “Fight Song.”

When an overwhelming majority of the electorate says the country is heading in the wrong direction and is financially crushed by inflation, don’t bother with politics. Give them a song.

Sung by a rich man. Preferably a very wealthy person with a mansion – who can also give them lessons on how to vote.

On the eve of Election Day, Oprah introduced Harris at a large rally in Philly where Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga performed while Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry took the stage in other cities.

Bruce Springsteen, working busker sang on the track, as did Megan Thee Stallion. Beyoncé? She showed up in Houston. Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez and Fat Joe have all spoken at Harris rallies. Taylor Swift supported her.

The actors of Marvel “The Avengers” organized a zoom to “save democracy”‘. Jon Bon Jovi even released a vanity song with Harris’ approval. (Enough reason to vote against it!)

Lizzo, for her part, spoke at Harris’ rally in Detroit, then posted a sassy and very relatable video of herself boarding a private jet.

Then came the Al Smith dinner, a traditional stop for presidential candidates, to share a moment of bipartisanship and self-deprecation.

Instead of introducing yourself, Harris sent a pathetic video with Molly Shannon as her SNL character, Mary Katherine Gallagher, fluttered.

It was a perfect summary of her campaign: She said a few words and then let the famous person do the heavy lifting. And he landed flat.

Yes, everyone who has ever attended the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty came for her. They are perplexed, they knock on doors and post all this on social media to get virtue points.

And the voters saw clearly.

Although Harris’ slogan was “we won’t go back,” the campaign was decidedly reversed, taking the DeLorean all the way to 2008.

Back when Hollywood stars meant something here. Obama was at the top, and deploying a Julia Roberts or a George Clooney for a campaign meant dazzling an important audience: the readers of People magazine in Middle America.

Before the Democratic Party completely abandons the working class. I spoke to them. I told them they were racist or bigoted for not putting their pronouns in their bio.

But it’s 2024 and the post-COVID cultural shift has become visible. The power of glossy magazines, movie studios and other institutions has collapsed under the weight of an Internet that has democratized entertainment and the flow of information.

The influence is in the hands of people like Joe Rogan and other streamers and podcasters who have followed him. What we call the “manosphere”.

Last night at Trump’s victory party, UFC head honcho Dana White took the stage to greet the podcasters who interviewed Trump and Vance.

“I want to thank NELK Boys, Adin Ross, Theo Von, Bussin’ With The Boys. And finally, the mighty, mighty Joe Rogan,” he said of his friend who supported the republican.

Not that Trump – himself a celebrity – is without his little stable of daredevils. However, his are more taken from another era and a little less elitist.

People like Hulk Hogan and “God Bless the USA” singer Lee Greenwood are more decorations in his carefully curated MAGA universe, intended not to convince voters but to create an image.

And other powerful backers, like White and Elon Musk, are businessmen who have become cultural figures revered for building a meaningful product, not for reading lines.

Team Trump has managed to see this shift and capitalize on it, while continuing to speak to regular voters and meet their real needs.

Meanwhile, Harris will still have fall 2024 to look back on, where she got to see some decent concerts.