Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign has come to a dramatic conclusion, marred by severe financial troubles, including a reported $20 million debt, according to multiple media sources. Despite raising over $1 billion in donations, the campaign's spending and management have led to a significant shortfall as it winds down its efforts to secure the Democratic nomination.
A Billion Dollars Raised, But Debt Looms
According to Politico's Christopher Cadelago, sources familiar with the situation confirmed that Harris' campaign raised more than $1 billion but found itself $20 million in the red by the end of October. Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show the campaign spent approximately $900 million by mid-October, with $118 million still in the bank at that point. However, by month's end, even those remaining funds had been exhausted, leaving the campaign deeply in debt.
In comparison, President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign, which raised less than half of Harris' total—around $400 million—still managed to maintain a cash reserve of $36 million by mid-October. Harris' fundraising success, however, proved to be no guarantee of fiscal discipline, as mismanagement and costly expenditures became increasingly apparent.
Management Struggles and Staff Frustrations
Breitbart News, citing several insiders, reported that much of the blame for the campaign's financial troubles falls on campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon. According to campaign staffers, O'Malley Dillon's leadership style alienated many in the campaign's ranks, with some asserting that Harris was sidelined in favor of maintaining a strategy aligned with President Joe Biden’s broader re-election efforts. "People didn’t like working with her," one campaign staffer said. "Many people on the campaign felt like we lost because Kamala wasn’t allowed to run her campaign. They were running Joe Biden’s campaign instead of a Kamala campaign."
Staffers also raised concerns about the handling of campaign funds, with some alleging they were still awaiting overdue payments for their work.
Excessive Spending on Ads and Celebrity Events
When analyzing the campaign’s spending, it’s clear that a substantial portion—nearly $700 million—went toward advertising, according to ad-tracking company AdImpact. A significant portion of this was spent on high-visibility campaigns, such as flying banners over NFL games in swing states. The campaign also invested heavily in digital and out-of-home advertising, including nearly $500,000 a day on ads displayed on the Las Vegas Sphere, a cutting-edge venue in Nevada, a critical battleground state.
Additionally, the campaign allocated funds to high-profile concerts featuring major artists like Katy Perry, Lizzo, and Eminem. Sources close to the campaign have suggested that these events were largely the brainchild of O'Malley Dillon, who allegedly pushed for high-cost celebrity-driven events that some campaign staffers felt were extravagant and counterproductive.
Desperate Measures to Recover Losses
As the campaign faces its financial collapse, Breitbart reported that Harris’ deputy campaign manager has been “shopping” the campaign's extensive fundraising email list in an attempt to recoup some of the losses. The practice of selling or renting out email lists is a common tactic for campaigns struggling with debt, but it signals the severity of Harris' financial situation as the race for the Democratic nomination concludes.
The Aftermath
With the 2024 election season nearing its end, the collapse of Kamala Harris' campaign raises broader questions about the effectiveness of her strategy and leadership team. Despite a record-breaking fundraising haul, the failure to translate those funds into meaningful victories at the polls, combined with poor financial management, has led to an uncertain future for the vice president's political career.
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