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(1,311 posts) Wed Nov 20, 2024, 09:20 AM Nov 20

How Kamala Harris Burned Through $1.5 Billion in 15 Weeks [View all]

Her frenzied spending has led to second-guessing among some Democrats and questions as she has pressed for more cash since the election.

By Shane Goldmacher
Nov. 17, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris spent a remarkable $1.5 billion in her hyper-compressed 15-week presidential campaign. But in the days since losing to President-elect Donald J. Trump, her operation has faced questions internally and externally over where exactly all that cash went.

Despite her significant financial advantage, Ms. Harris became the first Democratic presidential candidate to lose the national popular vote in two decades, ceding every battleground state to Mr. Trump.

Her cash-rich campaign spared no expense as it hunted for voters — paying for an avalanche of advertising, social-media influencers, a for-hire door-knocking operation, thousands of staff, pricey rallies, a splashy Oprah town hall, celebrity concerts and even drone shows.

It was a spree that averaged roughly $100 million per week.

The frenzied spending has led to second-guessing among some Democrats, including whether investing in celebrity-fueled events with stars such as Lady Gaga and Beyoncé was more ostentatious than effective.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/us/politics/harris-campaign-finances.html

If we change nothing, not messaging and delivery, and policy, we will continue to lose.

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How Kamala Harris Burned Through $1.5 Billion in 15 Weeks [View all] Passages Nov 20 OP

Good for her. No one else's business MichMan Nov 20 #1

I think it's fair to get an accounting of money spent. jimfields33 Nov 20 #2

Just as soon as we get an accounting of what Donnie and Elmo spent Blue_Tires Nov 23 #45

Oh... I think it's my business FBaggins Nov 20 #7

I'm *still* getting begging messages quaint Nov 20 #30

You want a refund or something? Blue_Tires Nov 23 #47

Did you want them to not spend it? blue cat Nov 24 #51

I didn't reply to the fact that she had spent a bunch of money FBaggins Nov 25 #58

The law says otherwise. n/t Igel Nov 20 #40

Donnie gets to freely ignore the law, why shouldn't she? Blue_Tires Nov 23 #46

She left it all on the field. RandySF Nov 20 #3

Sadly tintinvotes Nov 20 #4

MAGA Super-pacs had billions, Trump got billions in free coverage, rurallib Nov 20 #5

Yes. I agree in part too. Passages Nov 20 #8

Also, undisclosed money bought tons of yard signs. John1956PA Nov 20 #15

I am still getting Emails and texts every day wanting money nt doc03 Nov 20 #6

Me too, many a day. Passages Nov 20 #10

I unsubscribed. Gore1FL Nov 20 #18

We lost to a guy who pantomimed performing fellatio on a mic bronxiteforever Nov 20 #9

I disagree. It is the job of the candidates to get through to the electorate. Passages Nov 20 #12

I disagree with this messaging mantra of the mainstream press bronxiteforever Nov 20 #13

FDR quotes were reflective of the Great Depression, yes. Passages Nov 20 #19

Even if this is accurate, WNYC and economists are doing Dem messaging? How is this on Dems? LymphocyteLover Nov 20 #23

Even if what is accurate? Passages Nov 20 #26

I would not message that voters are stupid bronxiteforever Nov 20 #27

Desperate people do desperate things which can have horrifying consequences. Passages Nov 20 #34

"...and well enough informed"????? calimary Nov 24 #52

RFK Jr. was 60 YEARS OLD when he dumped the bear, not 40 something. Brenda Nov 20 #35

Thank you for the correction Brenda. Even worse. bronxiteforever Nov 20 #38

Big Pharma has control... Brenda Nov 20 #39

Well, for one thing . . . . no_hypocrisy Nov 20 #11

Spare me this post analysis BS. We lost because labor split the vote, Latino's split the vote, the uncommitted, and the JohnSJ Nov 20 #14

Change nothing? Passages Nov 20 #16

It wasn't the messaging why we lost. We live in a very sexist bigoted country. If that was not the case 50% of the JohnSJ Nov 20 #21

Disagree. Passages Nov 20 #22

The reason we lose is because our greatest strength is also are greatest weakness. We have an open tent, and that makes JohnSJ Nov 20 #36

It is our strength when you do both, economic and civil-human rights. Passages Nov 20 #37

This response is why black women in particular... appmanga Nov 24 #55

You're doing their work for them Keepthesoulalive Nov 20 #17

He got a couple hundred thousand. jimfields33 Nov 20 #32

He received tons of soft money from musk, thiel Keepthesoulalive Nov 20 #41

The celebrity endorsements were useless and backfired big time dalton99a Nov 20 #20

How did they backfire? Trump had celebrity endorsements too, just different weirder celebrities LymphocyteLover Nov 20 #25

But they didn't for Donnie because....? Blue_Tires Nov 23 #43

My one complaint about her campaign was a lack of really hard-hitting negative ads against Trump LymphocyteLover Nov 20 #24

Post mortems are interesting and this one will go on for some time. Passages Nov 20 #28

Yes, and the problem is the next election (hopefully there will be one) will be very different and LymphocyteLover Nov 20 #31

omg, yes. Passages Nov 20 #33

Trashed Basso8vb Nov 20 #29

Wow, it's almost like she was trying to win a presidential election Blue_Tires Nov 23 #42

Is this punditspeak for "she tried too hard"? Blue_Tires Nov 23 #44

Not in my opinion. Passages Nov 23 #48

The only changes we could have possibly made Blue_Tires Nov 23 #49

I'm afraid this may be true Delarage Nov 24 #57

We got a late start. I don't think Biden was aware of his disability until that awful moment in the debate when he CTyankee Nov 24 #50

She and her team had 3 friggin months to introduce her and get the message across. Biophilic Nov 24 #53

Fuck the Times. Their bullshit helped get the felon elected. They're more ridiculous every day. Scrivener7 Nov 24 #54

Typical NY Times. JohnSJ Nov 24 #56