The Thursday evening event, billed as "Unite for America," is being hosted by Winfrey from suburban Michigan, one of this election's key battlegrounds. It is leaning on celebrities like Brian Cranston, Jennifer Lopez and Meryl Streep, but also the stories of ordinary voters to promote Harris's message.
More than 210,000 people were watching on the Harris campaign livestream on YouTube alone before Winfrey introduced the vice president - the event was also being streamed on other major social media platforms.
It is so good to be with — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) @Oprah for a town hall to speak directly with Americans about the issues on their minds in this election. Our campaign is about who we are as Americans—and making clear that we stand for freedom, independence, and dignity. pic.twitter.com/5k8h5Ra7UkSeptember 20, 2024
Harris' campaign is hoping the event will have the same impact of Winfrey's talk show, which drove bestseller lists and allowed celebrities to share their softer side and everyday people to share stories of struggle and inspiration.
It comes as Harris is working to continue to share her biography and governing philosophy with voters during her abbreviated presidential campaign, with early voting already underway in some states.
Harris has limited her interactions with the traditional media, instead prioritising digital engagement and casual - and often more controlled - moments that her campaign hopes will reach voters who increasingly get their news from digital sources.
"I want to bring my daughters to the White House to meet this Black woman president," comedian Chris Rock said.
The event is meant as a unifying event of Harris supporter groups that spun off organically after a "Black Women for Harris" call drew tens of thousands of viewers — and raised $US1.5 million ($A2.2 million) - in the hours after Harris took over for President Joe Biden after he ended his campaign in July. They included "White Dudes for Harris," "Comedians for Harris" and 'Swifties for Harris".
The campaign said Harris and Winfrey would make a direct call to action to viewers to volunteer for Harris' campaign and to make calls and knock on doors for the Democrat.
Oprah Winfrey has been very public in her support for US presidential candidate Kamala Harris. (AP PHOTO)
Meanwhile, former resident Donald Trump has addressed Jewish donors and an organisation gathered to focus on efforts to fight antisemitism hours after an explosive CNN report detailed how one of his allies running for North Carolina governor made a series of racial and sexual comments on a website where he also referred to himself as a "black NAZI".
North Carolina Lt. Govermor Mark Robinson on Thursday vowed to remain in the race despite the report, and the Trump campaign appeared to be distancing itself from the candidate, while still calling the battleground state a vital part to winning back the White House.
Trump has frequently voiced his support for Robinson, who has been considered a rising star in his party. He did not comment on the allegations during his address.
Trump also has been criticised for his association with extremists who spew antisemitic rhetoric such as far-right activist Nick Fuentes and rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. And when former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke endorsed Trump in 2016, Trump responded in a CNN interview that he knew "nothing about David Duke, I know nothing about white supremacists".
10°C