In an election that is going right down to the wire, U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney are racing around the country to sway undecided voters in battleground states. Many musicians are also putting in a final push for their candidate of choice.
Though politics can be as much a popularity contest as the music business, the president is chosen by an electoral college, not the popular vote. It takes 270 or more votes in the electoral college to win. When a candidate wins a state, he gets that state's votes in the electoral college. The more populous the state, the more votes in the electoral college. So big states like Florida and Ohio that could go either way are the key to victory. It's just that simple!
To that end, we're looking at the electoral college of rock. It's not about who has the most famous supporters — we all know where the Bruce Springsteens and Hank Williams Juniorses of the world stand. Jay-Z showed up in Ohio yesterday to sing "99 Problems But Mitt Ain't One," but what kind of voting block can he bring? We're taking a stab at who can turn the tides.
Madonna
Supports: Her vocal support for Obama got her booed at a show in New Orleans.
Influence: Hailing from Michigan, where Romney was born, perhaps her local ties can help bring this state, which is trending Democrat, to go for Obama.
Kid Rock
Supports: The rap-rocker and NASCAR pitchman is firmly in the Romney camp.
Influence: Not so fast, Madonna! Another star from Michigan. Will his blue collar appeal be enough to ward off her spike-heeled hordes of fans?
Win Butler of Arcade Fire
Supports: Butler wrote a piece for the pro-Obama website 90 Days, 90 Reasons, where he laid out his pride in Obama's record and concerns over Romney's gaffes on the world stage.
Influence: Butler is California-born and Texas-raised, but both of those states have made up their minds. If he can rally young people, who have been less engaged in this election than the last, and the legions of Americans living in his adopted home of Montreal, he may have something.
Meat Loaf
Supports: Meat Loaf put his considerable weight behind Romney in support of the candidate's tough talk on Russia.
Influence: A history of musical equivocation may not help Romney. Songs like "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" and "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" give his fans too much wiggle room. Clearly, he'll love them no matter how they vote.
Neil Diamond/Burt Bacharach/Barbra Streisand
Support: Diamond and Bacharach showed up at a phone bank in Los Angeles to sing "Sweet Caroline" for Obama supporters. Streisand released a video outlining her support for the president.
Influence: This group is lumped together because this could be a kind of Holy Trinity for Florida retirees, who are the key to this important swing state and its 29 electoral votes.
Gene Simmons of Kiss
Supports: Simmons, the man who has merchandized Kiss out the wazoo, supports Romney for his business chops.
Influence: If he mobilizes the Kiss Army, who dares stand against him?
The National
Supports: The band has a beef with Romney for using their music at campaign events without permission, and publically supports Obama.
Influence: Hailing from the important swing state of Ohio, if they can motivate their fans this could help. Ohio's pick for president has won every election from 1964 onward.
Sam Moore of Sam & Dave
Supports: Moore played "Cleveland Rocks" before launching into his hit "Soul Man" at a recent Romney event in Ohio.
Influence: Cleveland is a city that will take its flattery where it can find it. Maybe this will help Romney in Ohio.
Related:
From Willie Nelson to Hank Williams Jr: charting Nashville's political spectrum
Bruce Springsteen has trouble rhyming 'Obama'
Rear-View Mirror: The politics of Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."