Politician: Why Taylor Swift's Political Endorsements Could Be So Powerful in Tennessee

During my campaign for the United States Congress this past year, I would spend many weekday mornings at the City Cafe in downtown Murfreesboro, Tenn. — my hometown, about 45 minutes southeast of Nashville. When I finished my daily serving of coffee, sausage, biscuits, and grits, I would get to work attempting to charm the patrons of the venerable diner with twin goals in mind: building friendship and getting votes.

It wasn’t an easy task for a young progressive.