Kamala Harris’ Celebrity Whisperer Reveals Campaign’s Strategy for Harnessing Star Power

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of politics and celebrity, I can’t help but feel like I’ve stumbled into the ultimate crossover event. Greg Propper, a man who has built a career bridging the gap between Hollywood and the policy world, is now at the epicenter of one of the most significant political campaigns in recent history – the 2024 U.S. Presidential race with Kamala Harris as the nominee.

Today is July 31st, marking ten days since Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and endorsed Kamala Harris. At this moment, Greg Propper finds himself engrossed in a phone call, giving nods of approval and flashing smiles. When asked about the possibility, he exclaims with enthusiasm, “That would be fantastic!” He sympathetically mouths “I’m sorry” to the reporter he’s conversing with via Zoom.

As soon as he hangs up, the phone rings again. It’s been like this for days.

2024 sees Biden’s campaign enlisting Propper Daley, an L.A.-based social impact firm, for celebrity endorsements early in the year. The transition to Harris as the nominee has brought about a flurry of activity, according to Propper. Previously, when Biden was the candidate, people were ready to lend their support whenever asked, says Propper. Now, there’s an overwhelming eagerness from everyone wanting to be part of the campaign. Managing this enthusiasm can be tricky, as it’s tempting to accept help from every well-wisher. However, our role in the campaign is to ensure we have a well-planned strategy for engagement.

Propper is strategically utilizing celebrities who have expressed interest, such as Bobby Berk from the popular show “Queer Eye,” who hails from rural Missouri’s Amish farming community, who has been part of Rural Americans for Harris, and Jane Fonda, who has been addressing senior voters.

Propper Daley, who identifies as a “practical optimist,” has made a career assisting artists such as John Legend, Kerry Washington, and Camila Cabello in translating their compassionate goals into tangible social activism. With Legend, they aided in organizing ex-convicts as voters, while with Cabello, they established a legal fund to challenge discriminatory laws against the LGBTQ+ community in Florida. Additionally, Propper Daley counsels brands like Best Buy and Babylist, offers guidance to nonprofits such as Everytown for Gun Safety and Hillary Clinton’s early childhood initiative, Too Small to Fail. Moreover, their company organizes an annual event, A Day of Unreasonable Dialogue, where approximately 600 Hollywood writers and executives gather to listen to activists, policy experts, and politically engaged celebrities discuss ways to weave current issues into storylines. Notable speakers at these events have included Kerry Washington, Jill Biden, Kim Kardashian, Ezra Klein, Stacey Abrams, and Halle Berry.

Developing the ability to know when Hollywood should not only voice opinions but also listen attentively requires a unique blend of tact and diplomacy. It appears that Propper has cultivated some of these skills, having grown up in Rye, New York. Witnessing his father, who was involved in retail and politics, run for City Council and establish Rye’s Human Rights Commission, instilled in him a sense of community activism. As part of a Boy Scouts project, they collaboratively marked handicapped parking spaces within the town and left notes on vehicles parked illegally in those spots.

As a gamer, I’ve always admired my dad’s knack for tackling problems head-on, rather than waiting for someone else to do it. This spirit was further fueled by my fascination with ‘The West Wing’. Consequently, I pursued a political science degree at Tufts and later a law degree at Cardozo. My journey also included stints as a congressional intern and contributing to the growth of Service Nation, an initiative aimed at expanding national service programs such as Teach for America and the Peace Corps. It was during my time with Service Nation that I crossed paths with Michelle Kydd Lee from CAA, who at the time was leading their philanthropic division. This encounter opened my eyes to a gap in connecting the entertainment community with policy and nonprofit sectors, and that’s where my journey began.

In 2012, Propper established Propper Daley alongside others, with Legend and Chrissy Teigen serving as initial clients. The firm concentrated on matters such as criminal justice reform, earning recognition from THR on their Next Gen list the following year. According to Legend, relationships built by Propper Daley aided the couple in navigating complex efforts towards change within a contentious field. He confides that he holds them in complete trust.

At the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Legend is scheduled to perform at a gathering organized by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Notably, he often supports the Democratic Party’s causes, particularly those relating to criminal justice reform. Washington has been associated with Propper Daley since 2018 and in 2020, she moderated part of the DNC held on Zoom. This year, she will be the emcee during Thursday night’s event, where Harris will officially accept her nomination. As Washington explains, “This isn’t merely about political candidates and election cycles; it’s about constructing a future where everyone recognizes their voice and influence within our democratic system.”

Clinton leaned heavily on Propper for assistance in linking her with producers of TV shows, so they could advocate for childhood health among parents. She acknowledges Propper’s team as crucial in exploiting the influence of mainstream media. Meanwhile, Cabello describes Propper as one of the most intelligent and compassionate individuals she has ever encountered.

In the context of a presidential campaign, Propper emphasizes the importance of using stand-ins, explaining that it’s not just about having supporters who like your work; it’s about connecting them with relevant issues and communities they identify with. He notes that simply being a fan doesn’t guarantee they’ll listen to you when it comes time to vote. Instead, to make this connection effective, these people must trust that you have taken the necessary steps to educate yourself on the subject matter and have been granted some level of authority to discuss the candidate or topic at hand.

Propper remains tight-lipped about whether Beyoncé and Taylor Swift will endorse Harris, but he’s open about the campaign’s strategic approach to revealing support. Following Biden’s decision to step down, Propper notes that there was a significant surge of enthusiasm among figures in the entertainment and creative field towards Harris’ candidacy within the subsequent 48 hours.

However, the campaign recognizes that it must sustain this energy all the way until November and prevent celebrities from grabbing attention, which could fuel Republican claims of elitism. “This is not a campaign centered around celebrities,” Propper explains. “It’s a campaign for the people. The vice president wants to ensure everyone is involved.”

Having been a long-time reader of The Hollywood Reporter, I can confidently say that this story caught my attention more than most. As someone who has always been fascinated by the entertainment industry, I eagerly await each new issue to arrive, and this one did not disappoint. This particular article, which was featured in the August 21 edition of the magazine, provided a unique perspective on an intriguing topic that I would have otherwise missed out on if I hadn’t subscribed. Therefore, I highly recommend The Hollywood Reporter as a must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in show business or entertainment news. So, if you’re not already a subscriber, click here to sign up and start enjoying all the latest insights and updates from the world of entertainment!

2024-08-20 21:27

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