The financial reports for Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign show that she raised and spent over $1 billion, twice as much as Donald Trump in the final weeks of the race. Despite the significant spending on advertising, travel, rallies, and canvassing, Harris still lost to Trump. Some Democrats are questioning the campaign’s budgeting decisions, including large expenditures on rallies with celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Lady Gaga. The campaign also spent money on ads at the Las Vegas Sphere and a churro place in Arizona.
Patti Solis Doyle, a Democratic operative, highlights the need for introspection and scrutiny of all aspects of the campaign in the aftermath of the loss. Meanwhile, political strategist James Carville suggests that the campaign’s impact on the Democratic brand could be damaging. Despite receiving significant financial support and maintaining a presence in swing states, Harris ultimately fell short in both the popular vote and electoral college.
The campaign’s focus on attacking Trump and introducing Harris to the public as vice president led to strategic decisions around advertising spending. Critics question the allocation of funds for large-scale rallies, celebrity appearances, and production costs. However, the campaign also made significant contributions to organizations targeting key voter blocs in swing states.
In the end, Harris’ campaign reported no debt, while Trump’s campaign ended with about $10,000 in debt. The financial reports reveal the intricacies of campaign spending and the challenges of running a high-stakes, high-budget presidential race.
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