Vice President Kamala Harris’ marketing campaign shelled out almost $2.5 million to Oprah Winfrey’s manufacturing firm for the celeb-packed city corridor it hosted — greater than double the preliminary estimate reported.
It was initially surmised that Winfrey’s firm Harpo Productions had been paid round $1 million for the discuss present legend’s September city corridor with Harris, however a brand new report exhibits that the greenback quantity was drastically underestimated.
Two folks conversant in the matter instructed the New York Occasions that Winfrey’s firm had truly been paid nearer to $2.5 million — nonetheless a mere fraction of Harris’ estimated $1.5 billion marketing campaign spending.
The well-known TV star has denied receiving any private funds from the Democrat’s workforce and a former adviser to the Harris marketing campaign additionally mentioned they didn’t pay anybody for his or her appearances or assist.
Winfrey mentioned she didn’t pocket any of the cash and used it to pay her workforce. She additionally famous that the Harris workforce was charged for what they required for the city corridor.
“I was not paid a dime. For the live-streaming event in September, my production company Harpo was asked to bring in set design, lights, cameras, crew, producers and every other item necessary (including the benches and the chairs we sat on) to put on a live production. I did not take any personal fee,” Winfrey wrote on Instagram.
“However, the people who worked on that production needed to be paid. And were. End of story.”
The Harris marketing campaign broke information for essentially the most donations compiled within the shortest period of time. Now, it’s additionally seemingly probably the most costly to this point, along with her marketing campaign blowing by means of $1.5 billion in 15 weeks.
Her exorbitant price range additionally saddled the Democratic Get together with a $20 million debt.
The cash largely went in the direction of the marketing campaign’s aggressive promoting, because it needed to squeeze a yr of rallying into three months after Harris changed Biden because the Democratic nominee. There was additionally grassroots campaigning, inescapable social media promoting, and reeling in celebrities and influencers like Winfrey.
The star-studded assist included well-known artists like Beyonce and Girl Gaga.
Different billed purchases embrace almost $9,000 price of ice cream from high-end outlets, $15,000 in meals supply companies, and a staggering $2.6 million in personal jet journey throughout her two-week push in battleground states in October.
President-elect Donald Trump trounced Harris within the election, garnering 312 electoral votes. The US Senate and Home of Representatives additionally tipped, making for a Republican majority throughout the board.
Trump had an estimated price range of $720 million, in line with the Wall Avenue Journal. He spent his time on the marketing campaign path showing on a collection of on-line exhibits, together with The Joe Rogan Expertise, the top-ranking podcast on most charts.
