Beyoncé Fails to Deliver Odds Boost for Kamala Harris

Vice President Kamala Harris’ odds of winning the 2024 presidential election have worsened over the past 24 hours, according to a leading bookmaker.

On Friday, Betfair offered odds of 6/4 (40 percent) on Harris achieving victory on November 5, compared to 4/6 (60 percent) for former President Donald Trump. As of Saturday morning, Harris’ odds had lengthened to 8/5 (38 percent), while Trump saw his odds cut to 5/8 (61 percent)—suggesting that those placing bets didn’t think Harris’ rally with Beyoncé on Friday gave her an immediate boost.

Beyoncé, one of the world’s most popular musicians, joined Harris onstage in her native Houston, where she urged voters to back the Democratic presidential nominee to protect “the freedom to control our bodies.” Friday also saw Trump sit down for a three-hour interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, during which he said his “one mistake” during his presidency was picking people he “shouldn’t have picked” for his administration.

Speaking to Newsweek about the change in odds, Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: “Despite Harris’ chances improving slightly this week after her Obama and Springsteen rally on Thursday, punters appear unconvinced by her A-list backers.

“And Harris’ hopes that Beyoncé might help her run the world appear dashed, too, after the megastar’s appearance at a Democrat rally in Houston failed to move the needle in her favor.”

Rosbottom continued: “Harris is at 8/5 today, giving her a 38 percent chance of becoming U.S. president. Meanwhile, Trump showed off the scar on his ear from the assassin’s bullet to podcaster Joe Rogan during a chat ranging from UFOs to JFK last night. His odds are sitting at 5/8 right now, giving him a 61 percent chance of reclaiming the White House.”

Newsweek contacted the Trump and Harris campaigns for comment on Saturday via email outside regular office hours.

During her speech on Friday, Beyoncé focused heavily on women’s empowerment, commenting: “Imagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceilings, no limitations. Imagine our grandmothers. Imagine what they feel right now—those who have lived to see this historic day.

“Even those who are no longer physically with us, imagine all of their sacrifice—the sacrifices made so we can witness the strength of a woman standing in her power.”

An analysis of recent polling by the election website 538 released on Saturday gave Harris a 1.4-point lead in the popular vote, with 48 percent versus 46.6 percent for Trump. The vice president’s position has fallen significantly this month, according to the website, as she had a 2.6-point lead on October 1.

Despite Harris polling ahead nationally, 538 shows Trump as being more likely to win the Electoral College, with a 53 percent chance versus a 47 percent chance for his Democratic opponent. In the Electoral College system, it is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote but lose overall, as Hillary Clinton did against Trump in 2016.

In better news for Harris, a model based on “opinion polls, electoral history and demographic data” published by the election website 338Canada on October 22 showed the vice president receiving 286 Electoral College votes to Trump’s 252.