Kamala Harris’s campaign has been making a significant push to engage influencers, aiming to sway public opinion by leveraging the voices that many people—especially younger generations—listen to online. However, this strategy seems to be hitting some major roadblocks. A growing number of influencers are stepping forward, revealing that they have turned down offers to promote Harris and the Democratic Party, even when substantial financial incentives were on the table.

One such influencer, Lauren Mochen, recently exposed the Harris campaign’s attempt to pay her for favorable posts. According to Mochen, the campaign was ready to proceed with her involvement but first wanted her to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). This NDA would have effectively silenced her from revealing any behind-the-scenes dealings, including the fact that she was being paid to express support for Harris and the Democrats.

Would suggest watching the video below:

Another TikTok influencer exposed the Harris campaign for trying to pay her to say nice things about Kamala and the Democrats and told her to sign an NDA first. pic.twitter.com/HtOHfkMFVQ

— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) August 14, 2024

Mochen’s revelation is a telling sign of the growing skepticism among influencers about getting involved in politics. She pointed out a significant concern: many people, particularly in the younger generations, form their political views based on what their favorite influencers say. If those influencers are being paid to promote certain ideas, the authenticity of their opinions comes into question.

Her statement, “Just know that they might have been paid to say the things they’re saying,” underscores a broader issue. The reality is that a large portion of the American public does not follow politics closely. Instead, they rely on third-party sources—like influencers, fashion magazines, and celebrity gossip outlets—for their news and opinions. The Democratic Party is well aware of this trend and has been trying to harness the power of influencers to shape public perception, a tactic that has been successfully employed in the past through Hollywood celebrities and famous activists.

However, the strategy seems to be faltering. High-profile influencers like Twitch streamer Kai Cenat have publicly rejected the Harris campaign’s advances. Cenat’s refusal is particularly damaging, given his massive following among younger audiences. His public denial of the campaign’s offer could send a strong message to his millions of followers, many of whom might see this as a reason to be skeptical of Harris’s campaign.

In another instance, an influencer provided Republican Arizona state senator Jake Hoffman with an email from an agency representing the Harris campaign. The agency offered to pay the influencer to create content highlighting what they “admire about the Biden-Harris Administration” and the “initiatives you support.” The email is a clear example of how the campaign is trying to engineer favorable social media coverage by paying influencers, rather than relying on genuine support.

What’s surprising to some is that this pay-for-promotion tactic is seen as a shock. In fact, jobs like this are openly advertised online. A quick search for Harris campaign positions reveals salaries as high as $110,000 a year.

The other question is why isn’t the Trump campaign doing this? At the very least the fake outrage from the left would make harder for Harris to do it.

For years, Democrats have successfully used Hollywood to push their messaging, but now they are shifting their focus to platforms like TikTok, where influencers have a direct line to millions of followers. However, the backlash from influencers who are unwilling to sell their voice, even for a hefty paycheck, suggests that this approach might not be as effective as the campaign had hoped.