Democrats have historically had no trouble pulling in pop-star endorsements, but Republicans have a much harder time. Last month, for example, the band Dropkick Murphys asked Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) to not use their music after he walked on stage to one of their songs. And in 2012, while Obama had Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Katy Perry and Pitbull to stump for him, Romney had Kid Rock and Meatloaf.
So it's no surprise that Florida Republicans are courting Miami-born party-music icon Pitbull to join their cause in 2016, according to BuzzFeed. Among the Republicans who have bestowed honors upon the man responsible for hits like "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" and "Don't Stop The Party" are Gov. Rick Scott, who named him Ambassador of the Arts, Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, who gave him the key to the city, and state Sen. Anitere Flores, who presented him with as honorary degree from Doral College, where she is president.
for those that didn't believe #dale pic.twitter.com/xK6fUE3V8M
— Pitbull (@pitbull) June 18, 2014
But Pitbull isn't giving out any endorsements at this point, except for his own personal #brand. "I'm not here to be part of any political party," Pitbull told BuzzFeed. "I'm here to bring political parties to my party because they can't, they won't, they never will stop the Pitbull party..."
Getting Pitbull in 2016 would be a potential Republican coup. The rapper, born Armando Christian Perez, taps into demographics that could prove instrumental to a Republican win, like Latinos, 71 percent of whom voted for Obama in 2012; young people, 60 percent of whom did, and Floridians; who have 29 electoral votes and comprise the biggest -- and often most competitive -- swing state.
The effects of celebrity endorsements on the public's political opinions and voting behavior aren't all that well understood. A 2008 study found evidence that Oprah's endorsement of Obama was responsible for more than one million votes during his primary battle with Hillary Clinton, while a 2011 study found people believe celebrity political endorsements have more of an effect on the general public than it does on themselves.