Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign spent a staggering $20 million on celebrity appearances, federal election records reveal, in a failed attempt to capture the nation's attention and secure the Democratic nomination. The campaign's reliance on high-profile events with Hollywood A-listers has come under scrutiny, as it failed to translate into electoral success.

Lavish Spending, Lackluster Results

Splurging on Star-Studded Events

The Harris campaign's financial filings paint a picture of a campaign that prioritized glitz and glamour over grassroots outreach. Federal Election Commission records show that the campaign spent over $15 million on "event production," coinciding with a series of high-profile concerts and rallies featuring a who's who of the entertainment industry. From rapper 2 Chainz in Georgia to The Isley Brothers in Wisconsin, the campaign spared no expense in bringing in big-name performers to energize supporters.The campaign's spending on celebrity appearances reached a crescendo in the final days, with the election eve concerts featuring a slew of A-list performers in key swing states. Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin took the stage in Philadelphia, Katy Perry performed in Pittsburgh, and Jon Bon Jovi entertained the crowd in Detroit. These star-studded events alone could have pushed the total tab on celebrity performances beyond the $20 million mark.

Questionable Spending Decisions

The Harris campaign's lavish spending on celebrity appearances has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle. Republican strategist Jimmy Keady lambasted the campaign's priorities, stating, "Millions of hardworking middle-class families donated to Kamala's campaign. Instead of reaching voters and sharing her agenda with their donations, Harris spent millions on pop stars and celebrities who joined her on stage. By using [donors'] hard-earned money to Hollywood, the Democrats have shown they are out-of-touch with Middle America."The campaign's financial records also reveal that several media production companies received six-figure payments, though their exact roles in the campaign remain uncertain. Viva Creative, a marketing agency that had organized events with Oprah Winfrey and comedian Trevor Noah, was paid $1.8 million for event production. Majic Productions, a Wisconsin-based light and sound company, received $2.3 million, while Vox Productions, a Los Angeles-based company specializing in scene design and venue management, was paid nearly $1 million.

Oprah's Involvement and the Wasted Millions

One of the most high-profile celebrity partnerships was with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions, which was paid $1 million on October 15th, just weeks after Winfrey hosted a star-studded town hall featuring Julia Roberts and George Clooney. Winfrey also spoke at the climactic Harris campaign rally in Philadelphia on the eve of Election Day, telling the crowd, "We're voting for healing over hate."Despite the campaign's lavish spending on celebrity appearances, the Harris campaign ultimately fell short, losing in all seven battleground states. The campaign raised over $1 billion to defeat former President Donald Trump, but finished with at least $20 million in debt, with only $118 million remaining in cash as of October 16th. The Democrats' anger over the campaign's inability to defeat Trump has led to fingers being pointed at the spending decisions that prioritized high-profile events over grassroots outreach.