Kamala Harris’ Campaign Paid $1 Million to Oprah’s Harpo Productions Amidst Heavy Spending on Celebrity Appearances

The Kamala Harris presidential campaign allocated substantial funds to partner with celebrities and entertainers, reportedly paying Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions $1 million as part of this strategy. This payment, documented on October 15, followed a star-studded town hall hosted by Winfrey for Harris in September. Winfrey, a prominent supporter, also attended Harris’ final rally in Philadelphia, where she offered a rare endorsement, stating, “We’re voting for values and integrity. We’re voting for healing over hate.”

Investments in “Call Her Daddy” Podcast

The Harris campaign’s entertainment spending extended beyond Winfrey, reportedly making a significant investment in the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, hosted by Alex Cooper, in a strategic effort to connect with younger audiences. According to the Washington Examiner, the campaign spent six figures building a custom set for Harris’ October interview with Cooper, filmed in a Washington, D.C. hotel room. This media push aimed to leverage the podcast’s popularity to reach a key demographic of young voters.

Swing-State Concerts to Mobilize Voters

In a final push before Election Day, the campaign reportedly spent up to $20 million on a series of concerts across swing states. Performers included Jon Bon Jovi in Detroit, Christina Aguilera in Las Vegas, Katy Perry in Pittsburgh, Lady Gaga in Philadelphia, and a 2 Chainz rally performance in Atlanta. Although a planned performance by Alanis Morissette was canceled, reducing the costs slightly, the concerts underscored the campaign’s attempt to energize and mobilize voters.

Criticism of Celebrity-Driven Strategy

Republican strategist Brad Todd criticized the campaign’s emphasis on celebrity appeal, suggesting it failed to address voters’ broader concerns. “Advertising is a pretty important source of information for swing voters,” Todd stated. “It no doubt matters, but it’s not enough. It doesn’t matter if you have the wrong message and it’s not delivered compellingly. What her campaign was missing was any effort to break with the unpopular administration she has been a part of.”

Debt Concerns for Staff and Vendors Post-Campaign

Kamala Harris capped her campaign with a spectacular concert-filled evening on Election Day eve, a bold move just before her narrow loss to Donald Trump in the presidential race. The vice president reportedly spent $20 million on these events, but with reports emerging that the campaign is now in debt, staff and vendors are expressing concerns about whether they will be paid for their services.