Harris campaign deficit: Millions spent on Oprah, concerts, ‘Call Her Daddy’ set

Nov 11

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

Last week, Straight Arrow News reported that the Harris campaign raised over $1 billion but ended with a $20 million deficit. Now, the campaign’s late-stage spending, which included millions on celebrity endorsements and media appearances, is being disclosed.

According to a Washington Examiner analysis, the Harris campaign paid $1 million to Oprah Winfrey’s production company on Oct. 15. This payment followed a star-studded town hall Winfrey hosted for Vice President Kamala Harris in September. Winfrey also appeared at Harris’ final rally in Philadelphia on the eve of Election Day, offering her endorsement for the vice president.

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The report also reveals that the Harris campaign spent six figures to build a custom set for Harris’ appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. The interview, filmed in a hotel room in the District of Columbia, aired in October as part of an effort to connect with younger, female voters.

In addition to these media appearances, the campaign spent heavily on bringing high-profile performers to battleground states in the days leading up to the election.

On the eve of Election Day, the campaign paid for Jon Bon Jovi to perform in Detroit, Christina Aguilera in Las Vegas, Katy Perry in Pittsburgh and Lady Gaga in Philadelphia. Three days before the election, rapper 2 Chainz performed at a rally in Atlanta.

The campaign’s high-stakes use of star power to sway voters cost more than $20 million, according to a New York Post analysis. The campaign also spent around $700 million on advertising, including a major ad blitz in the final days, with ads displayed on the Las Vegas Sphere.

Staffers expressed frustration with how the money was spent, according to reports. In interviews with several news outlets, some said the focus on celebrity endorsements and media appearances was driven by the campaign chair, and they disagreed with this approach.

Under increasing pressure, campaign leadership reportedly urged staffers not to speak with reporters during an all-staff call. The Harris campaign has not commented on its finances, but the Federal Election Commission requires candidates to file post-election financial reports within 30 days after a general election.

Tags: 2024 Elections, Campaign funding, Kamala Harris

[Karah Rucker]

LAST WEEK WE REPORTED ON THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN RAISING OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDRAISING –

BUT ENDING THE CAMPAIGN WITH A 20 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.

WE’RE NOW LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE CELEBRITY SPLURGE EXPENSES WHERE SOME OF THE MONEY WENT LATE IN THE CAMPAIGN.

THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN PAID ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO OPRAH WINFREY’S PRODUCTIONS COMPANY ON OCTOBER 15 – ACCORDING TO A WASHINGTON EXAMINER ANALYSIS.

THE PAYMENT COMING AFTER WINFREY HOSTED A STAR-STUDDED TOWN HALL IN SEPTEMBER FOR VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.

WINFREY ALSO APPEARED AT HARRIS’ FINAL RALLY IN PHILADELPHIA ON THE EVE OF THE ELECTION – OFFERING HER ENDORSEMENT FOR THE VP.

THE REPORT ALSO SAYS THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN SPENT SIX FIGURES TO CREATE A CUSTOM SET FOR HARRIS’ APPEARANCE ON THE “CALL HER DADDY” PODCAST.

THE INTERVIEW WAS FILMED IN A WASHINGTON DC HOTEL ROOM AND AIRED IN OCTOBER AS AN EFFORT TO CONNECT WITH YOUNG, WOMEN VOTERS.

IN ADDITION TO THE MEDIA APPEARANCES –

THE CAMPAIGN ALSO SPLURGED ON BRINGING IN HIGH-PROFILE SINGERS TO PERFORM IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

ON THE EVE OF THE ELECTION –

THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN PAID FOR JON BON JOVI TO PERFORM IN DETROIT MICHIGAN.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA.

KATY PERRY IN PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA.

AND LADY GAGA IN PHILADELPHIA.

THREE DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION – THE CAMPAIGN HAD RAPPER 2 CHAINZ PERFORM AT A RALLY IN ATLANTA GEORGIA.

THE GAMBLE OF THIS STAR POWER WINNING OVER VOTERS AT THE LAST MINUTE COST THE CAMPAIGN MORE THAN 20 MILLION DOLLARS ACCORDING TO A NEW YORK POST ANALYSIS OF THE MONEY.

THERE WAS ALSO AN AD BLITZ BY THE CAMPAIGN –

ABOUT 700 MILLION DOLLARS WENT TOWARD ADVERTISING OVERALL –

INCLUDING MILLIONS IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE CAMPAIGN –

DISPLAYING ADS ON THE LAS VEGAS SPHERE.

WE TOLD YOU FRIDAY HARRIS STAFFERS SPOKE WITH SEVERAL NEWS OUTLETS EXPRESSING THEIR FRUSTRATIONS WITH HOW THE SUM OF MONEY WAS SPENT –

SAYING THE FOCUS ON CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS AND HIGH PROFILE MEDIA APPEARANCES WERE THE IDEAS OF THE CAMPAIGN CHAIR.

IDEAS THESE STAFFERS SAY THEY DISAGREED WITH.

THE CAMPAIGN’S LEADERSHIP IS REPORTEDLY FEELING THE PRESSURE –

URGING ITS TEAM ON AN ALL-STAFF CALL TO STOP SPEAKING WITH REPORTERS.

THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN ISN’T OFFERING COMMENT ON ITS FINANCES –

BUT THE FEC REQUIRES POST-ELECTION DATA FROM CANDIDATES WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER A GENERAL ELECTION.

THANKS FOR WATCHING OUR NEWS UPDATE.