Hillary Clinton holds her final campaign rally tomorrow, during which she will deliver a last address to constituents before the nation heads to the polls on Tuesday. In honor of the occasion, her team has clearly chosen both the location and headlining musical guest with American iconography in mind. Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen will join the Democratic presidential candidate in Philadelphia, at Independence Hall.
According to Pitchfork, Springsteen has already demonstrated his contempt for Clinton’s opponent. In September, he dedicated “Long Walk Home” to a concertgoer who gifted him a pocket Constitution with “Fuck Trump” written on the cover.
Tomorrow, the musician will broadcast his support for Hillary Clinton alongside Bill and Chelsea Clinton and President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. And he will be joined by a second, Jersey-born musical guest: Jon Bon Jovi.
Springsteen is a fitting choice for a political rally, especially one that seeks to carry gravitas. He’s charismatic, delivers barn-burning performances, and despite its jarringly melancholic lyrics, “Born in the U.S.A.” has become a go-to jam for politicians. Long conjured as a symbol of American tenacity, loving Bruce Springsteen is almost an act of patriotism.
That said, it’s clear that with the pairing of Springsteen and Bon Jovi, Clinton’s team seeks to appeal to a masculine, blue collar voter base. Both performers, by virtue of their music and their aesthetics, have positioned themselves as rock musicians for the so-called “working man.” For Clinton to invite both to perform at her last rally seems significant — it’s a meaningful effort to reach out to those less invigorated by the message of girl power, as well as those who feel alienated by her refined demeanor.
Oh well. I love girl power, and I love Bruce Springsteen, and Jon Bon Jovi is...fine. And Springsteen, notably, has been a vocal advocate for progressive causes. Here’s hoping for a stirring, empowering rally that sends Americans flocking to the polls. After all, we have a fascist pustulated ingrown hair to defeat.