Question: Do celebrity endorsements make any difference?

[Edwards4President]

Celebrities seem to be lining up to endorse candidates. For example, Clark has Madonna, Dean has President Bartlett and Rob Reiner, Edwards has Hootie and Art Alexakis, etc. But other than generating a burst of publicity for the candidate, do celebrity endorsements really make a difference?

[SadEagle]

1. Some Blogger (Atrios(?)) pointed out that...

... they help to draw people to candidate's events. Which I imagine helps a bit, since most politicians have enough personal charisma to sway people in close contact

[King of New Orleans]

2. The only one

that has had an impact is Michael Moore.

[mikehiggins]

3. Like Edwards says, this campaign has really not been about endorsements

Lots of people endorsed lots of people but lots of people just didn't care at all.

[Mairead]

4. I think they do, moreso than political ones

because people realise that the celebs have nothing to gain from their endorsement --they're giving it because they actually believe in the candidate.

I know I'm tons more impressed by Chomsky's conditional vow to endorse DK than I would be at 150 political endorsements. Same with Danny Glover's, Barbara Ehrenreich's, Pete Seeger's (another one who never endorses anyone!)....

[Jersey Devil]

5. Only if the endorsement is from Elvis

Now that would be a coup! :)