Nov. 2 (UPI) — Democrat Stacey Abrams is receiving a little help from Hollywood in her quest to become Georgia’s first black female governor as stars like Oprah and Will Ferrell go door-to-door in support of her campaign.
Oprah canvassed in support of Abrams this week as Georgians had their last chances to cast early votes. The talk-show host appeared at a rally Thursday in Marietta, Ga.
“I have this to say to you, black people with ancestors who never had the chance,” Oprah said at the event. “When you sit at home, and your friends sit at home and don’t go out to vote, you disrespect your elders.”
She went door-to-door asking Abrams’ supporters to vote early and volunteer for the campaign.
Never canvassed before? Don’t knock it ’til you try it! Canvassing is as easy as having a conversation and asking 3 simple questions. Watch first time canvasser @Oprah get out one vote in 46 seconds, then volunteer to get out even more: https://t.co/NfiG5dXAZZ #gapol pic.twitter.com/dMKHVjxPvb- Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) November 2, 2018
Actor Ferrell also canvassed last week and appeared in an online ad.
“Hi, it’s Will Ferrell. And guess what: You’ve got to vote early, volunteer hard and let’s get it done for Stacey Abrams,” he said in a video.
Though he’s not on the ground in Georgia, Avengers actor Mark Ruffalo also lent his support to Abrams on social media. He called attention to lawsuits over allegations of voter suppression in the state, where more than 50,000 residents were in danger of not being able to vote.
Ruffalo shared a phone number for voters who have trouble at the polls.
“I’ll be going out this weekend in my home state of New York and I wanted to especially encourage all those in Georgia to show up for Stacey Abrams who’s running for governor to better the lives of all Georgians,” he said in a video post on Twitter.
Rapper and actor Common attended a “Souls to the Polls” rally with Abrams on Sunday in Atlanta. He called it an “amazing and inspiring day.”
“She is a phenomenal candidate and person and she can make history by becoming the first ever Black Women elected Governor in America,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
Supporters of Abrams’ opponent, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, though, took issue with celebrities voicing their support for her. Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday said her campaign was being “bankrolled by Hollywood liberals.”
“I’d like to remind Stacey and Oprah and Will Ferrell, I’m kind of a big deal, too,” Pence said. “And I’ve got a message for all of Stacey Abrams’ liberal Hollywood friends: This ain’t Hollywood. This is Georgia. And Georgia wants a governor that’s going to put Georgia values and Georgia first. And Brian Kemp is going to do just that.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Common (@common) on Oct 29, 2018 at 11:02am PDT