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‘Concerned’ British music producers fly to US to campaign for Kamala Harris
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‘Concerned’ British music producers fly to US to campaign for Kamala Harris

Two British music producers have traveled to the US to campaign for Kamala Harris, calling Donald Trump’s alliance with Russian leader Vladimir Putin “terrifying” for the UK.

Dan Glatman and Jon Cohen landed in swing state Pennsylvania on Thursday, joining an army of volunteers knocking on doors and engaging with voters ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.

The two London-born men have no voice or stake in the US election, but Mr Cohen, 52, told the PA news agency it was becoming impossible to ignore them when “the stakes are so students”.

Dan Glatman and Jon CohenDan Glatman and Jon Cohen

Dan Glatman and Jon Cohen on Kamala Harris’ campaign in Pennsylvania (Dan Glatman/PA)

Mr Cohen, whose producing credits include Joss Stone and Leona Lewis, told PA: “We are both normal Brits, but given the state of the world it is impossible to ignore the elections here , because they will obviously have such a significant impact… with consequences for everyone.

“And so we’ve been constantly following all of this over the last few months and we really felt like sitting idly by and watching this happen didn’t really feel right.

“We both felt the need to come here and help out. There are very strict laws regarding foreign interference in elections – you can’t send money, you can’t donate – but it’s perfectly OK to volunteer.

“So we just thought we’d get on a plane, come here, knock on doors and do whatever we can to help out.”

Both fathers of young children, the two men described the election as a pivotal moment in history.

Dan GlatmanDan Glatman

Dan Glatman met with Governor Josh Shapiro while campaigning in Pennsylvania (Dan Glatman/PA)

“To us, this in no way looks like an act of charity, because there is no one in the world who will not be affected by what happens tomorrow,” Mr. Cohen said.

Mr Glatman, best known as co-creator and manager of British boyband Blue, told PA: “We were just extremely worried in the UK.

“We exist under the protection of the American defense system, there’s a lot of rhetoric about it (but) ultimately it’s (Donald) Trump’s proximity to (Vladimir) Putin that really, really terrifies us .

“It’s terrifying. It’s clear where his loyalties lie,” he said, before adding: “The other thing for us is climate, Trump’s position on climate denial fills us with horror. »

Mr. Glatman spoke of the “phenomenal camaraderie” of volunteers “united for the same cause” as they all campaign for the Democratic Party.

APTOPIX 2024 Harris ElectionAPTOPIX 2024 Harris Election

Kamala Harris, Democratic presidential candidate (Susan Walsh/AP)

“We’re part of a team that knocks down 2,000 doors a minute, so to be part of it is actually a real privilege, and it’s a totally and utterly fantastic use of our time,” he said.

The 49-year-old also said that when their British accent was noticed on the doorstep, “there was a lot of gratitude and it was very moving.”

Mr Cohen told PA: “That feeling of all being in this together and working hard together and knowing you’re on the right side of things morally, it’s a fantastic feeling, but people are nervous – It’s going to be tight.

“What’s interesting is that on the other side, we haven’t seen anyone walking the streets for Trump, not a single person, and we’ve walked hundreds of streets so far, without seeing a single no one knocking on doors for Trump.

“We want to be positive, but the stakes are so high that everyone is also a little nervous, waiting to see what happens,” he said.

After the “terrible shock” of the 2016 election, “there is no complacency” this time, Mr. Cohen said, adding: “No one takes anything for granted.”

Dan Glatman and Jon Cohen Dan Glatman and Jon Cohen

Dan Glatman and Jon Cohen on the campaign trail (Dan Glatman/PA)

During their campaign days in Pennsylvania, the two met with Governor Josh Shapiro, who supported Anna Thomas’s bid for state representative.

Reflecting on the people they met on their trip, the two said people are choosing to support Ms. Harris following her commitment to supporting abortion rights after the 2022 Supreme Court decision that ended the constitutional right to abortion services.

“Yesterday we spoke to a grandmother who said: ‘I have to vote for my granddaughters, I have to protect their rights, I have to protect their freedoms, they are threatened, that’s why I’m doing this, that’s why.’ I’m voting for Kamala,” Mr. Glatman said.

“We had a little moment, it was actually quite emotional, and it really made us realize how lucky we are.

“I have two teenage daughters, I feel a huge connection with American women, as does Jon.

“The abortion problem here is very, very real, we don’t realize how lucky we are in the UK.”

Ms. Harris spent her final day before the election in Pennsylvania, whose 19 electoral votes offer the biggest prize among the states expected to determine the Electoral College outcome.