Charli xcx, Taylor Swift, George Clooney and Beyoncé all voiced their approval for the Democratic candidate. But do these endorsements do more for the stars than for the politician?

Back in July, Charli xcx posted a three-word tweet that some commentators thought might help swing the US election. Arriving the day after Kamala Harris announced her bid for the presidency, Charli’s tweet said simply: “Kamala IS Brat.”

It was a reference to Charli’s latest album, which had dominated the pop cultural landscape all summer. Brat was loaded with synth-pop bangers, drug references and tales from a life spent getting messy on dancefloors, and it wasn’t perhaps the most obvious comparison to make with the then 59-year-old US vice president, but the overall meaning was clear: Kamala was the presidential candidate with the most energy and authenticity – and had the approval of the pop star of the moment.