Harris Campaign Spent $1 Million on Oprah and Other Stars in Failed Presidential Bid
During Vice President Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful presidential campaign, her team spent significant amounts of money on high-profile figures, including Oprah Winfrey. According to a report from The Washington Examiner, the Harris campaign paid $1 million to Oprah’s Harpo Productions on October 15, following a town hall hosted by Winfrey for Harris in September.
Winfrey also made a rare endorsement, speaking at Harris’ final rally in Philadelphia the day before the election. She expressed support for Harris, stating, “We’re voting for values and integrity. We’re voting for healing over hate.”
The campaign also made other notable expenditures. One such example was the six-figure investment in the popular podcast Call Her Daddy. A source told The Washington Examiner that the campaign spent a substantial sum building a set for Harris’ appearance on the podcast, which aired in October. The interview, filmed in a Washington, D.C. hotel room, was part of the campaign’s strategy to reach a wider audience.
Additionally, the Harris campaign invested heavily in swing states. Reports indicate they spent up to $20 million in key battleground states before Election Day, though some of that money was directed toward canceled events, such as a planned performance by Alanis Morissette.
The campaign also organized several high-profile concerts across swing states, featuring stars like Jon Bon Jovi in Detroit, Christina Aguilera in Las Vegas, Katy Perry in Pittsburgh, Lady Gaga in Philadelphia, and 2 Chainz in Atlanta just days before the election.
Despite these efforts, Republican strategist Brad Todd commented, “Money can’t buy you love or a good candidate,” reflecting the mixed results of the campaign’s star-studded strategy.
This spending spree, totaling over $1.4 billion on political ads, came in the wake of a losing battle against former President Donald Trump.
