Politicians seek to leverage celebrities to reach voters

Composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, left, introduces Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock at a Latino voter rally in Atlanta on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Miranda is one of a number of celebrities trying to sway voters, although it's unclear how much influence they have. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

A beer garden near downtown Atlanta filled for a recent event hosted by Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock aimed at Latino voters.

Some said they came to seek Warnock, who is seeking reelection in the midterm elections on Nov. 8 against Republican challenger Herschel Walker. But others came to see a particularly high-profile Latino who would be speaking on Warnock’s behalf — composer, actor and filmmaker Lin-Manuel Miranda.

“Who I’m really here to see is Lin-Manuel Miranda, because I’m a really big fan of his,” said Camilla Estrada, of Atlanta, who described herself as liberal and said she plans to vote for Warnock.