Kamala Harris Paid Oprah Winfrey $1 Million To Endorse Her, Dropped Big Bucks on Celebs – And Still Lost

Kamala Harris Paid Oprah Winfrey $1 Million To Endorse Her, Dropped Big Bucks on Celebs – And Still Lost

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign reportedly paid millions to enlist top entertainment names during her unsuccessful presidential bid.

According to reports from the New York Post, Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions received $1 million from the campaign in October after Winfrey hosted a town hall with Harris in September and appeared at her final rally in Philadelphia, where she made a rare public endorsement. “We’re voting for values and integrity,” Winfrey told the crowd. “We’re voting for healing over hate.”

Beyond Winfrey, the campaign’s spending reportedly included a six-figure payment to support Harris’ appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast with host Alex Cooper. This expenditure was dedicated to building a set for the interview, which took place in a hotel room in Washington, D.C., and aired in October.

Additionally, the Harris campaign organized concerts across seven swing states on the eve of the election. These events, designed to drive turnout, featured major artists like Jon Bon Jovi in Detroit, Christina Aguilera in Las Vegas, Katy Perry in Pittsburgh, Lady Gaga in Philadelphia, and a performance by 2 Chainz in Atlanta three days before Election Day. These concert events were expected to cost up to $20 million, though the final amount reportedly varied after certain planned acts, including Alanis Morissette, were canceled to cut costs.

The concept of concert events to boost voter turnout was reportedly pushed by Stephanie Cutter, a political strategist from President Obama’s 2008 campaign, with support from David Plouffe, another Obama campaign veteran. Cutter aimed to target lower-propensity voters, though the events did not generate substantial media coverage, except for Winfrey’s rally appearance, where she warned that Trump’s re-election could threaten voting rights. Harris-Walz campaign chairwoman Jen O’Malley Dillon approved the concert series despite reservations and allegedly postponed the decision, contributing to higher production costs due to last-minute planning.

Internal sources within the campaign have raised concerns about the cost of these concerts. Some staffers reported that the extensive planning and logistical teams, ranging from 40 to 60 people per city, placed a significant financial strain on the campaign. An insider expressed worries about whether payments to vendors and reimbursed expenses would be impacted, though staff payments reportedly remained unaffected.

Republican strategist Brad Todd criticized the Harris campaign’s spending strategy, stating, “Money can’t buy you love or a good candidate. Advertising is important…but it doesn’t matter if you have the wrong message.” Todd highlighted the campaign’s failure to distinguish itself from the Biden administration’s policies as a key misstep.

As Election Day approached, campaign managers became increasingly aware of budgetary constraints, and some final concert plans were scaled back. The decision to cancel Morissette’s appearance in Detroit was made two days before her scheduled performance. Internal conflicts emerged, with sources suggesting that campaign operations chief Dana Rosenzweig could have raised concerns earlier, though some defended her, indicating that budget oversight may have been the responsibility of the campaign’s financial team.

Following the election, sources close to the campaign have speculated that financial difficulties may impact the campaign’s ability to settle outstanding debts with vendors and other contributors. Concerns about expense reimbursements have arisen among staff, especially those responsible for organizing the concerts. “I’m sure vendors will start to get upset soon,” one source told The Post.

Despite high-profile endorsements and substantial spending, Harris ultimately lost to former President Donald Trump in key swing states, casting doubt on the effectiveness of her campaign’s strategy and its investment in celebrity-driven voter engagement initiatives.

 

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