If Kamala Harris’ campaign was known for anything, it was its blockbuster fundraising. In just a matter of months, it crossed the $1 billion mark, in a stunning and record-breaking pace.
Now, less than a week since the vice president conceded the contest, it not only has run out of money, it’s still asking for more. The campaign emails and texts, known for their ubiquity throughout the election, aren’t expected to stop anytime soon.
“Hi Team, It’s Kamala, The election isn’t what we wanted, but I will never give up the fight,” a text message sent Tuesday said. “And right now there are still a number of critical races across the country that are either too close to call, or within the margin of recounts or certain legal challenges.”
Two campaign officials said the requests are for money meant to eventually flow to the Democratic National Committee to help assist with efforts such as state recounts or curing ballots.
One of the officials acknowledged there was some debt but downplayed its significance, saying it would not be difficult to pay off by year’s end. The official also stressed that, given the results of the election, it would have been worse to have lost while sitting on a pile of unspent cash.
But several campaign officials questioned that contention, saying it appeared the requests were meant to pay down debt. One senior campaign official called the practice of asking supporters for more money after losing decisively and having taken in so much money as “appalling” and another described it as “disgusting.” A third person who was flooded with complaints from donors questioned how Democrats could save their credibility moving forward.
The overarching challenge at this point for what is left of Harris’ campaign is that the financial picture is shrouded in mystery — even for those within the organization. No one can — or will — spell out a clear status of its finances. Reports have surfaced about debt that’s reached into the tens of millions of dollars — a narrative that’s taken on a life of its own in conservative media and, much to the dismay of donors, even brought a troll from Donald Trump over X.
“Whatever we can do to help them during this difficult period,” Trump teased on X.
The campaign on Wednesday said it is an inaccurate characterization of the debt. One senior official flatly stated in an interview this week: “That’s completely wrong.”
Five sources with direct knowledge of the campaign’s internal finances confirmed to NBC News that it has indeed accrued debt. But none could point to a specific amount; several people threw out possibilities, with the lowest beginning at $6 million. ..