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Kanye West spends another $3m on election campaign - but gets less than $3,000 in donations

Rapper has now spent almost $12m during 2020 election cycle

Graeme Massie
Los Angeles
Tuesday 20 October 2020 20:45 BST
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Kanye West releases first presidential campaign advert
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Kanye West has spent another $3 million on his long-shot presidential campaign but raised less than $3,000 in September, new figures show.

The hip-hop star pumped millions of dollars into his heavily criticised run for the White House while receiving just $2,782 from supporters last month, according to the Federal Election Commission.

The new money the rapper had to put in takes the total he has loaned his campaign to $9.76 million.

West has also personally donated $2.11 million to the campaign, while it has raised just $17,635 in total donations, according to reports.

He announced earlier this year that he was planning to run for president, even though it was too late to get on ballots in all 50 states.

West is registered in 12 states across the country and has urged supporters to add his name as a write-in candidate elsewhere.

Democrats have criticised the musician for his “stunt” campaign some believe is designed to help Donald Trump by siphoning votes away from Joe Biden.

West had been a vocal supporter of the president but said in July he could no longer back Mr Trump and had lost confidence in him.

West recently released a pair of campaign adverts just weeks before election day.

"I'm voting for Kanye West. When I think about my next president, I think about somebody who's gonna help people, care about family, create jobs," said one supporter from Connecticut.

“These are things that Kanye West has already done. This is why I believe he will be our next president.”

In a statement his campaign called his latest ad "another example of the growing support for Kanye West and how his message of faith, life and justice is resonating with a wide array of voters.”

Polling has shown that support for West’s candidacy is very low.

A Morning Consult/Politico survey in August of 1,983 registered voters found just 2 per cent supported West. 

Observers say that could have an impact in tight battleground races if the presidential candidates are only several percentage points apart.

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