For me personally no but I am sure there are some people that voted for him because of celebrity endorsements!

I'm going to go ahead and choose to have more faith in people than that... even though I know it's probably completely unfounded. I personally did not care who the stars endorsed.

Personally, I don't think celebrity endorsements mattered. It actually created a negative impact on me.

Everyone expects California to pretty much vote Democratic regardless, and celebrities are not usually the most educated on the actual platforms of the candidates. I don't think that their Myspace blogs are the most powerful form of campaigning, and people are much more influenced by parents and peers.

Anyone with half a brain would have realized the change in history that this election would make no matter who won (african-american as pres or a female as vp). I think that is what prompted most people to vote. At least I hope.

No way. It annoyed people more than convinced them to vote for him.

I said no, but I don't feel that celebs had absolutely nothing to do with it. We have seen celebs trying to get us to vote, making phone calls and contributions. Just being active in general. They did not sway my vote or my opinion though.

Yes. The only reason I voted for Obama is because Heidi and Spencer endorsed McCain.

Kidding. I'm KIDDING. I swear.

Michelle looks like a black widow spider...still cute!

I make it a habit not to take seriously a damn word a celebrity says. There are people in the entertainment business I respect...'celebrities' when the majority barely finish high school if that, ah... nah.
It's all about getting the word out, that takes money. That's what they know how to do. Make money. And talk. And pose. And smile. While making more money.

I voted "NO", but I don't agree with the reason that it written behind it. Because those that participated in Obama campaign, and those that voted for Obama, had just as much to do with this historic moment, as myself and every other citizen of the United States of America!!!!

Yes celebrity endorsements help.

Why else would books shoot to the Best Seller list after Oprah talks them up?

@ Whiplash!!!

Whiplash. My sisters and I were talking about that last night, how wierd/awesome it was that sooo many celebrities were endorsing Obama and all McCain had was John Voight, Hasselb*tch and Heidi Montag.

I didnt vote for him just because P diddy, Oprah or Scarlett Johansen said they were going to. I voted for him because of his principles and his policies and, frankly because I just dont like McCain.

No.

It's not like Speidi made me want to vote for McCain or Oprah made me want to vote for Obama. You vote for what the candidates stand for, not who stands for them.

I'm sure it had some effect, but I am very tired of the questioning whether celebrities and Hollywood are the reason Obama won. That belittles all the many millions of informed and passionate Obama supporters who supported him because we know what he stands for, believe in his platform and what he can accomplish, and don't base our votes on what Matt Damon tells us to do.

I voted Other because I do think that celebrities play a HUGE role in Obama winning but I don't like that the quote is so positive, saying "Every bit helps and they made sure their voices were heard!" because I don't consider them helping anything. People should make their decision based on the policies of the candidates, not from who Oprah and Diddy want to vote for. They make so much money that it seems they don't even care about getting taxed even more! Maybe us regular people should have thought about that before just going along with the rich celebrities.

of course celebrity endorsement helped those who are uninformed, which is sad because people should educate themselves rather than jumping on a bandwagon.

and with that said, 08AMA!

Well said Jude!

Very well said, Deba. That's what this is about-voting for who you believe is the best person for the job not who your favorite actor or actress believes is the best person for the job.

Celebs had no effect on me. I voted Obama b/c I believe in what he believes in.

there is a problem with the 'no' option- its not that they had no bearing, they did, but even without massive celebrity advocacy he would have won.. so i wish the descriptions of the options were changed.

I'd say Bush's unpopularity had a hell of a lot more to do with it than Obama's endorsements.

Seriously, people were counting down from when he last got voted in.

damn, i still so sad that he won...

Not at all. Because in 2004 there were lots of celebrity endorsements for Kerry and he didn't win. I think considering where the country has been at the end of Bush's second term--pitiful economy, war in Iraq--voters wanted a change. And they were smart enough to think for themselves and pick an inspiring candidate that is so far removed from this current president.

Jude said everything I wanted to say!

I actually would argue that celebrity endorsements can harm your candidate if you aren't careful.

I mean really - who listens to what Lindsay Lohan thinks? Would you really want her endorsement, lol? I know that's mean, but honestly, think about it.

Jude.

there are plenty of people out there that worship celebs and are influenced. Do not kid yourselves. We are a country full of people looking for answers and guidance, I do believe people are influenced in general and yes, by celebs too.
Personally, not me.

Celebs are overrated. When they get political, they just get annoying. Obama did it for me, but it didn't hurt that the economy is in the gutter and we spend more money overseas fighting phantoms than we spend inside of our own borders. I'm looking forward to the next 8 years even though I know it won't be easy.

I totally agree with Jude.

PSA's and ads are called CAMPAIGNING. That is how they are SUPPOSED to get recognition. And I wonder why we didn't see celebrities everywhere endorsing McCain. Obama didn't win because Oprah said so. He won because he deserved it.

I voted no. It's hard for me to believe that people voted for Obama b/c so many celebrities endorsed him. If so, that just makes me sad.

It makes no difference and its true look at Hillary Clinton and Kerry and all the money and endorsements Hollywood made on same sex marriage.In fact Hollywood triggers a destructive backlash.Having majored in U.S.History and Public affairs and discussing with fellow liberal friends at Princeton and Yale. Obama is no different than the rest. Americans expect so much from him and his ability to deliver this big promises to America and the world will be low. He has no Sept.11 National crisis. All U.S. Presidents since WW-2 suffered the freshman blues on their administration. Only 3 exceptionals were excluded like Reagan,Nixon and JFK but while JFK and Nixon were famous their exits were tragic and Reagan's boost came from the Cold War which was still a scary time for all and most of all surviving his assasination attempt.Im hopeful but a realist that it will be rough for Obama and America.So many harsh events will not come on his favor and this is one candicacy that based CHANGE in America.

Unfortunately, I do think that people take these celebrity endorsements seriously and base their vote on it. I think there have been some great points made by other celebrities regarding this issue:

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20237811,00.html

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20221372,00.html

It is one thing to help get people involved in elections or to take into consideration endorsements from others in politics or the government, but quite another to be influenced that greatly by these celebrities.

im not sure because i'm not American, but i'm sure people can stand up for themselves, that being said if celebs in the UK started to ask us to vote for who they wanted and sway our vote it would really bug me, and i don't think it would go down well...

I make my personal decision not being brainwashed by the media or stars.

i hope not. for me it didn't, and i hope for others it didn't either

i think that certain endorsements helped, such as Oprah's, but I think a majority of the people who voted for him based it solely on their own opinions of the two.

I say yes and no, I think if people based their vote on who a celeb was endorsing they should not be allowed to vote, but at the same time barack was the new trend the new gucci bag

Celebrities have NO control over my voting opinion.

It's pretty much Hollywood tradition to heavily support and endorse Democratic candidates anyway, though. Of course it seems like it was more intense this time around thanks to the candidate, but celebrities supporting Democrats is par for the course.

yep it is the hollywood tradition and many people didn't voice their opinions too quick. The governor came out to support the Republican just like a day before the election. His wife is from a Kennedy family as far as I remember and the Kennedy supported Obama from the beginning so that a bit of a surprise for everyone i think.

Anyway I love Miss O dress sense. She can dress to impress! She is a power dresser. I copy all her sense of style whenever I have to go to important stuff with my hubby (which isn't that often to my relief) but when we do I look up to her

Had to laugh at a bit Howard Stern did. He had his minions go out and interview Obama supporters. Trying to determine if they were voting for Obama the celebrity or Obama based on the issues. So what they did was swap the issues from McCain To Obama. So they talked to these folks and they were all excited about Obama, acting all in the know about politics. So one question was "so even though Obama chose Sarah Palin as his running mate you still have no problem voting for him?" "Oh no. Not all all" Another goody was "even though Obama supports keeping the troops in Iraq indefinitely you would still vote for him?" The dude says, "Oh yea, we support the troops."

My hunch is that Obama was able to win in large part to the media exposure afforded him. You only have to watch CNN, MSNBC, This Week, or read Rolling Stone to understand how biased the media truly was.

I supported neither McCain or Obama but find it incredibly sad that the media and celebrities can ultimately influence an election.

OF COURSE! You guys are in denial and the fact that we are all on a celbrity site cracks me up that you actually said no.

hunteriley I heard those clips and they were hysterical. I have a feeling a lot of those people voted for him because of his race, but I can't say that I wouldn't have done the same in their shoes.

It was a historic day!

I picked Other.

I wouldn't say they had NO effect whatsoever, but I would say they are just one more thing reminding you how important this election is.

I respect more celebs who actually put their feet on the ground and volunteered, rather than just going in from of a camera.

"in FRONT"

I am pretty sure Howard did the same thing to McCain supporters.
I can also be on a celebrity site and gossip about them that doesnt mean that i am going to blindly follow them.
In the end, people decide to do things for different reasons- noone can read minds so noone can really know..BUT completely accrediting a candidates success (or failure) to celebrities is giving them too much credit and underminding our intellingence!

What a gorgeous family. I just love them!

Some celebrities have very fanatical supporters who will swallow anything they say, and they make full use of their power.

Madonna played footage at her concerts likening McCain to Hitler, and Obama to Gandhi.

But that's a whole other subject of course, that celebrities think we want to hear their 2 cents on each and every subject. I just like to see what they wear on the red carpet!