Democratic leaders are increasingly concerned about the financial repercussions of Kamala Harris’ failed attempt at becoming president. Despite raising a massive money haul, the Harris campaign has found itself millions in debt, according to several reports and, according to a report by Axios, the wasteful spending by Harris may become a drain on the Democratic National Committee.
Democratic leaders have grown concerned that the burdened budget could limit the DNC’s support for future campaigns, a situation reminiscent of the aftermath of Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election, which left the DNC over $2 million in debt and contributed to challenges in the 2016 election.
Adding to the tension, Democratic Party Chair Jaime Harrison has privately expressed concerns over Harris’ campaign spending and the potential debt, and there has been friction between Harrison and Harris’ team.
Harris’ campaign raised over $1 billion within five months, but much was spent on TV and digital advertising, with $530 million going toward ads alone. Some of the campaign’s high-profile expenditures, like an ad on The Sphere in Las Vegas and a $1 million celebrity town hall event produced by Harpo, Oprah Winfrey’s production company, have raised questions.
Reflecting on the loss, one Harris aide expressed frustration to Axios, saying, “How do you raise a historic amount of money and not win a single swing state?”
Harris’ team had also anticipated opportunities for post-election fundraising in swing states that might still be counting votes, but Trump’s victory was determined early, cutting off that fundraising avenue. Now, desperate to pay its bills, the campaign has begun selling its email list to potential spammers while pretending they need money for an election recount.
