Harris spent over $10M on star-studded events on eve of election, report says
Vice President Kamala Harris made headlines for spending a staggering $1.5 billion during her 15-week campaign that ultimately ended in defeat to President-elect Donald Trump. The campaign reportedly went over budget, with swing state rallies on the eve of Election Day costing over $10 million. These star-studded events featured celebrities like Lady Gaga, Jon Bon Jovi, Christina Aguilera, James Taylor, and Katy Perry, all lending their support without compensation.
One costly setback for the campaign was having to rebuild a rally venue in Pittsburgh due to security concerns raised by the Secret Service. The exorbitant spending during the campaign has raised questions about where all the money went, with one payment to Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions coming under scrutiny. The campaign reportedly made two $500,000 payments to Winfrey’s company, with sources now suggesting the total cost of the event was closer to $2.5 million.
Despite criticisms over the campaign’s spending, a spokesperson for Harpo Productions claimed the money received was for production costs and that Winfrey did not personally profit from the campaign. Other major expenses for the campaign included $111 million on online ads for donations, $50 million for door-to-door canvassers, and $2.5 million for digital agencies working with online influencers.
A Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing revealed that the Harris campaign spent $2,626,110 on private flights in October alone, with costs ranging from $3,500 to $940,000 per disbursement. The campaign is believed to be $20 million in debt, but the chief financial officer assured that there would be no debt in the upcoming filings for the campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
In conclusion, Vice President Kamala Harris’s costly campaign spending has raised eyebrows and left lingering questions about where all the money went. Despite the setbacks and financial challenges, the campaign remains determined to address its debts and move forward.
