A recent report has uncovered unexpected financial details about Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign expenditures.
Fox News reported that Harris' campaign reportedly spent nearly $2.5 million on an event hosted by Oprah Winfrey, raising concerns about the campaign's financial management.
The event, a town hall hosted by Oprah Winfrey, was just one part of a series of expensive undertakings by the Harris campaign, which has spent lavishly on various elements of its operation, according to recent FEC filings first reported by the Washington Examiner.
The town hall with Oprah was not the only high-cost item. The Harris campaign made two substantial payments totaling $1 million to Harpo Productions.
These were made on October 15, for both the town hall event and a rally in Philadelphia that took place weeks later.
In total, over the course of 15 weeks, the Harris campaign's spending reached a staggering $1.5 billion, averaging about $100 million per week. This has led to the Democratic Party facing a $20 million debt following the campaign season.
Further scrutiny of the campaign's finances reveals nearly $9,000 spent on premium ice cream from vendors like Sweet Lucy's Ice Cream and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. Additionally, about $15,000 was spent on food delivery services including Uber Eats and DoorDash from July through early November.
The two-week period in October alone saw an expenditure of $2.6 million on travel via private jets.
This type of spending has raised questions about the necessity and optics of such costs, especially given the tight race and subsequent loss in Nevada by a margin of three points despite a $900,000 ad buy at Las Vegas' Sphere in the final election week.
A significant portion of the campaign funds was allocated to securing celebrity appearances and influencer partnerships.
These expenses, while aimed at boosting voter engagement and turnout, have contributed to the burgeoning debt and financial criticism faced by the campaign.
Oprah Winfrey, at the center of one of the most expensive single event costs, told TMZ, "I was paid nothing." This was echoed by a spokesperson from Harpo Productions who informed Variety, "Oprah Winfrey was at no point during the campaign paid a personal fee, nor did she receive a fee from Harpo."
The disclosures from FEC filings have prompted a broader discussion about transparency and fiscal responsibility within political campaigns. Analysts suggest that the high expenditures might not have been fully anticipated by donors and supporters of the Harris campaign.
As the Democratic Party grapples with the financial aftermath, these revelations could influence future campaign strategies and the management of funds, particularly in how much is allocated to events and external partnerships.
