Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign ended in financial difficulty, with reports revealing a $20 million debt despite raising over $1 billion. By mid-October, the campaign had spent roughly $900 million, and its remaining funds were exhausted by the end of the month, leaving the campaign in the red.
Federal Election Commission filings showed Harris raised more than $1 billion, with $118 million remaining in October. However, a significant portion of the funds was spent on expensive advertising campaigns, celebrity events, and large-scale initiatives, leading to financial strain. The Harris campaign spent around $700 million on advertising, including celebrity concerts with stars like Katy Perry, Lizzo, and Eminem, as well as massive ad buys in battleground states like Nevada.
Internal sources pointed to campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon as a key factor behind the financial troubles, alleging she mismanaged funds and limited Harris’ ability to shape her campaign. Staffers reported frustration, claiming the campaign was largely directed by the Biden team, rather than tailored to Harris’ priorities. The campaign’s lavish spending on ads and events, including flying banners over NFL games, raised questions about the financial strategy.
Despite the campaign’s fundraising success, staffers claimed they were still waiting for overdue payments, contributing to a sense of disorganization. Harris’ financial struggles have become a topic of criticism, with figures like President-elect Donald Trump mocking the campaign’s inability to manage its funds despite massive fundraising efforts. He suggested that the GOP might offer help during this “difficult period” for the Democrats.
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