DemDaily: Who Speaks For Them?

September 19, 2016

At 50 days out, the presidential candidates and running mates are focused on campaigning through battleground states where their personal presence can most impact swing voters.

So in the other 40 or so states, and in rallies and fundraisers across the country, "surrogates" take their places - advocating and speaking on behalf of the nominees.

Like endorsements in the primaries, the influence of Governors, Members of Congress and local elected officials carries weight with their colleagues and voting constituencies.

Likewise, public policy experts, organization and union leaders and, of course, celebrities make for excellent voices with fans all over the country.

Hillary Clinton, who also benefits from a popular Democrat in the White House, has amassed an historic line up of high profile, high-caliber campaign surrogates. President Obama is at the top of the list, followed by:

Top Clinton Surrogates
First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA), Senator Cory Booker (NJ), former President Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Senator Bernie Sanders (VT), Former WH Special Counsel Lanny Davis, James Carville, Paul Begala, Howard Dean, Donna Brazile, Media Matters' David Brock, John Podesta and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

HRC Celebs include George Clooney, Kanye West, Beyonce, Magic Johnson, Matt Damon, Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Schumer and hundreds more.

As is the case with Clinton, the presidential surrogate operation is a full department, with a team of veterans who identify, manage, inform and schedule hundreds of approved surrogates in every state.

By contrast, however, Donald Trump's alienation of his own party and colleagues has left him, and his VP nominee Mike Pence, relatively lacking in representation.

While Pence keeps a very active schedule, all other Trump surrogates only appear with the nominee, not on their own.

Nevertheless, the Donald's candidacy has, as we know, brought out an interesting collection of public figures that include:

Top Trump Surrogates
Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Doctor Ben Carson, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (NJ), RNC Chair Reince Priebus and Trump Campaign Manager Kellyanne Conway.

Celebrity voices for Trump include Gary Busey, Mike Tyson, Jesse Ventura, Wayne Newton, Mike Ditka, Dennis Rodman and Ann Coulter, among others.

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